Down Under Dive Shop

Calling all Divers! Calling all Divers! We need your support to get this spring/cavern/cave opened for diving.

2012-01-06T16:54:00.002-06:00

Howdy team,

Florida DEP is going to hear the general diving public's opinion on opening this spring as a public dive site.

Please show your support to make this happen. We have heard from divers who had the chance to dive it in the past and they said its one of the best.

Who doesn't want a new place to dive. Yes it is primarily for cavern and cave divers but if we start the movement now, who knows what we can get later.

Please show your support by attending in person or via absentee letter.

Just email your comment to: DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

STATE PARK TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING PROPOSED NEW ACTIVITY

Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 12/30/2011 08:30 AM EST

MEDIA ADVISORY: Dec. 20, 2011

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

STATE PARK TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT

REGARDING PROPOSED NEW ACTIVITY

~DEP to host workshop regarding cave diving at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park~

A serene view of Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park.

CRAWFORDVILLE - The Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service will host a public workshop on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 to hear from the public regarding the proposed inclusion of recreational cave diving at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park.

The Florida Park Service is examining proposals to provide recreational cave diving in Wakulla Spring. In an effort to solicit the views of the local community, the park’s citizen support organization and other park stakeholders, public comment will be taken before formally proposing the addition of cave diving in Wakulla Spring. Interested parties unable to attend the public workshop on Jan. 19 may send written comments to the Division of Recreation and Parks’ Office of Park Planning, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd, Mailstation 525, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

Featuring of one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including alligators, turtles, deer, and birds.

The public workshop will be held:

Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012

7 p.m.

Wakulla County Agriculture Extension Office

The Arena

84 Cedar Avenue

Crawfordville, Florida

About Florida State Parks, Greenways and Trails

The nation’s best state parks and trails have joined forces. Now a part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service, the award-winning Office of Greenways and Trails manages the 110-mile Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, eight state trails and more. Florida’s award-winning state parks have inspired residents and visitors with recreation opportunities and scenic beauty that helps to strengthen families, educate children, expand local economies and foster community pride. With 160 parks, 700,000 acres, 100 miles of beaches and more than 600 miles of multi-use trails, visit soon and often to enjoy Florida’s natural treasures. For more information, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org or www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/.

Want a new dive buddy this holiday season?

2011-12-17T16:50:00.000-06:00

Want a new dive buddy this holiday season? Give your friends and family the gift of scuba with Down Under Dive Shop PADI eLearning® Gift Passes.
Whether it’s for the holidays, a birthday, wedding, graduation or before they leave on a trip – PADI eLearning Gift Passes are the perfect gifts to get friends and family in the water.
Not only are they festive, but you can add a customized message to the recipient.
customized message to the recipient.

What are you waiting for? Purchase your PADI eLearning Gift Passes online today or visit Down Under Dive Shop.

Christmas Gifts for the Diver on your list.

2011-12-10T16:06:00.001-06:00

Down Under Dive Shop has Great Gift Ideas for the diving fanatic in your life.
Like these diving stocking fillers and must have diving gifts for the serious diver.
Here are some Gift Ideas for the Scuba Diving enthusiast.
If they just have everything, the team at Down Under Dive Shop are sure we can help.
Do you need gift ideas to give this year!!! Buy someone you know a Down Under Shop Gift Voucher.
We can offer Gift Vouchers starting from just $25.00

Check Out these Gift Ideas:

Combo Mask Scrub Defog $6.95

Dry Cases for Smart Phones and Tablets $39 to $59

Deluxe Save a Dive Kit $11.95

XS Multi Prpose Dive Tool $29.95

Super Pencils, Wet Notes and Slates $7.99 to $29

Custom Mask Straps $11.99

JBL and Riffe Spearguns $84-$999.95

Dive Lights $45-$799

Hoodies and Pull Overs

Airfill Cards (10 airfills or Five Nitrox fills) $40

Logbook Protectors $23.95

LAVACORE Shirts and Hoods $25 to $89

Pelican Dry Boxes for just about every gadget $20 and up

3mm full Wetsuits $175 to $310

5mm and up full Wetsuits $310 to $599

Sea and Sea DX2g Camera strobe and Wide Angle Combo $2145 (Includes free Digital Photo Course!)

Scubapro Dive Computers $249 to $1399

and just about anything else the diver on your list could need.

Huge Sale this Saturday and Sunday only!!!

2011-10-30T13:44:00.000-05:00

It's time to clear out last year's inventory.

Check out the prices on these package deals while supplies last!

It's our biggest sale ever!

Stop by this Saturday and Sunday for a once in a lifetime sale to get 15% to 50% Off on select gear.

.5mm to 3mm wetsuits (2010 Scubapro and Subgear)
Cammo Suits and Rash Guards (JBL,Riffe,Scubapro, Subgear)
Knighthawk and Seahawks BCDs with Air2
Digital Gauges and Dive Computers.(All Brands)
Dry suits (Waterproof Draco, and Scubapro Evertec)
Twinjet Max Fins (25% Off)
Sea Life and Sea and Sea Cameras (15% Off)
Dive knives (All Brands 15%)
Spearguns and accessories (JBL and Riffe15% off)
Like New Tusa Scooters $899 was $2200

Gloves (All Brands 15% off)

Waterproof Iphone/Android Cases (Pelican 15% Off)

Lights, Strobes, Markers (15% to 50% Off)

Used Regulators Systems $200!

Used BCDs $250!

Used Wetsuits $50

Scuba Tanks (Aluminum 80s $187.50 with Valve and Air Fill Card)

Ocean Reef Full Face Masks with communication (15% off)

Free Air Card with Purchase of $100 gift card ($40 value Great Christmas Gift)
And much more...
These overstocked, discontinued, and clearance products must go this weekend!

Don't forget to check out the new Gopro Hero2 HD video cameras only $299.95!

We will be grilling out and serving refreshments from 2:00 until on Saturday.

Dive Package Deals

All items must be purchased as BCD/Reg/Computer package.

Go Dive Package

$990.95

Package includes

Drift BCD with BPI

Aruba Regulator with Octo

Spg and XP10 Nitrox Computer

Explorer Package
$1593.35
Package includes
Seahawk BCD with Air2
Mk17/G250V
Spg and Aladin 2G Multigas Computer

Prodiver Package
$2346.36
Package includes
Glidepro BCD
Mk25/A700 Regulator
Galileo Luna Computer

Testing the new PADI Sidemount Diver Course

2011-10-28T11:36:00.000-05:00

Testing the new PADI Sidemount Diver Course

Posted in News, Training with tags PADI Sidemount on October 27, 2011 by kattek

By Kelly Rockwood, Training Consultant – PADI Americas

One of the great things about working in the PADI Training Department is the opportunity to help create, review and test new PADI programs. I was lucky enough to be included in formative research we were doing for the new PADI Sidemount Diver course held over the Labor Day holiday in September 2011. Giving up a holiday weekend was a small price to pay to be among a group of people helping test this new equipment configuration.

Jeff Loflin, a respected PADI Course Director and author of the first Sidemount Diver Distinctive Specialty course, led the research as our instructor.

Day One

In the morning, we met in a classroom where our instructor reviewed the development of the PADI Sidemount Diver Course Instructor Guide as it was currently written. The group then discussed a few edits to these standards that they felt would improve the course.

We followed this with information about the specific equipment used for sidemount diving and how it differs from a single cylinder backmount equipment configuration.

After lunch, we had a hands-on practice session configuring our own sidemount equipment before jumping in the pool for skills learning. While trim is important for backmounted diving, it is critical for sidemount diving. It is amazing how even slight adjustments to the cam band (moving it a slight amount either further up or down the cylinder) can dramatically change your profile in the water.

While in confined water, we worked on trim, removing and replacing the cylinders (both underwater and at the surface in the deep end of the pool), switching from one cylinder to another, monitoring our gas use, regulator recovery and clearing, air sharing with our buddy, hovering, deep water entry with one or two cylinders and swimming with one or two cylinders. We also removed one cylinder and adjusted our weighting for a single cylinder sidemount configuration and practiced some skills while wearing only one cylinder. During the debrief at the end of the confined water session, we discussed the Performance Requirements as currently outlined and made suggestions for skills and training that divers taking the program might find beneficial.

Day Two

We were up early to catch a boat to California, USA’s Catalina Island for the open water dives. While confined water sessions are essential for learning and mastering the skills necessary for sidemount diving, diving in the open water brings it all together. As California water is temperate, we also had wet suits, dry suits, hoods and gloves to contend with.

The first dive was challenging because the water had some waves and a slight surface current. Each of us was assigned a different method for donning our sidemount cylinders. I put both cylinders on in the water, while other testers attached their left cylinder first (so they were able to connect a low pressure inflator hose before entering the water), made a deep water entry, then connected the right cylinder in the water. Other entry methods included donning both cylinders and completing a giant stride, back roll or controlled seated entry.

During the dive, we practiced skills previously learned in confined water, like regular recovery and clearing, out-of-air drills (both by switching to our second cylinder and securing an alternate air source from our buddy), hovering for 30 seconds, removing and replacing the cylinders on the surface, monitoring gas supply and switching regulators to maintain similar pressures in each cylinder. We even performed a tired diver tow at the end of the dive. The student divers with no technical diving experience found this first dive challenging, while those who were familiar with handling stage or decompression cylinders found it liberating to be free from the constraints of double cylinders strapped to their backs. Most of us tweaked our equipment configurations during the surface interval.

On the second dive, some of us clipped one or both of our cylinders to a line, lowered the line into the water, got in and then donned our cylinders. Others practiced an entry method different than the one they used during the first dive.

We checked for neutral buoyancy, switched from one cylinder to another, shared air with our buddy while swimming and removed a cylinder in a sandy area beneath the boat to practice swimming with one cylinder. We also swam through and around the kelp and other obstacles to become comfortable with our buoyancy and trim. At the conclusion of the second dive, we unclipped and handed our cylinders to the boat crew or clipped them to a line for retrieval. Those without previous sidemount experience seemed to be much happier at the end of this dive as they had the chance to adjust their gear configuration during the break between dives.

We then practiced a few optional skills not currently included in the outline, like adjusting the cam band for trim while neutrally buoyant and swimming with both cylinders unclipped from the bottom rail and moved in front for ultimate streamlining. Too cool!

Research Conclusions

Based on our research experience, we suggested some revisions to the draft of the PADI Sidemount Diver Course Instructor Guide. Some were slight modifications, others more significant. Personally, I am a total convert to sidemount diving, because it is easy and has multiple options for equipment configurations.

Guess who's back?

2011-10-08T13:34:00.000-05:00

Photo by Instructor Shane Anderson

Scientists with the federal government and from 3 Gulf of Mexico states say efforts to find out more about whale sharks, the world's largest fish, are picking up steam.

Biologist Eric Hoffmayer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries service says 2 trips into the Gulf during September resulted in 10 taggings, significantly more than earlier efforts. The tags will provide information on the animals' movements.

In the summer, schools of the harmless animals laze about at the surface, where they can be tagged easily. But as fall approaches, they split off to hang out with schools of tuna that herd baitfish to the surface for an easy meal.

Relatively little is known about whale sharks. Scientists don't have a handle on population numbers, or know much about their breeding and migratory patterns.

Researchers from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi joined for the September tagging expedition. They were aided in their search by a spotter plane provided by a California-based nonprofit, On the Wings of Care.

On one trip to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary off Texas, Hoffmayer said the Gulf seethed as whale sharks leaped about, gulping mouthfuls of tiny fish. Screaming seabirds dove to grab some of the bounty.

Photo Josh Blair Oriskany

The scientists had 30 seconds to get photographs, anchor a GPS tag in the thick, sandpaper-like skin of one of the sharks and take a DNA sample.

Hoffmayer said the trips were successful — they tagged five whale sharks on each of two such trips. That's more per day than ever before.

The tags will beam information back to labs to track the sharks whereabouts.

"We pretty much doubled the amount tagged in the northern Gulf in one week," said Hoffmayer, who has studied whale sharks for nearly a decade.

The newly tagged animals range from 15-foot-long juveniles to 35-foot adults.

Photo by Shane Anderson 6 miles off shore

Whale sharks can grow as long as a school bus and are on the World Conservation Union's "red list" of threatened species.

"We're interested in how long they stay here in the Gulf, and where they go in winter," Hoffmayer said.

But to find out requires swimming with the sharks.

Fortunately, they're a docile species. They cruise the gulf sucking into tiny teeth meals of small fish and plankton. They lack the fearsome jaws of Gulf predator species such as the mako, tiger and bull shark.

Getting close to the gentle giants isn't as easy as it seems, even as they glide slowly through the warm waters.

"Though it looks like it's swimming nice and slow, it's a lot faster than we are. We try to put ourselves in front of the animal and let the animal swim to us," Hoffmayer said.

Once their boat was in position near a shark, Jennifer McKinney, a research technician at the University of Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, and Hoffmayer slipped into the water. A photographer went to the head — the spot pattern behind each whale shark's gills is unique. Hoffmayer was in the middle to attach a tag, and McKinney got DNA samples from the tail.

Photo Josh Blair Oriskany

Seven sharks tagged in September have tags that store months of temperature and depth data. They're designed to pop off and rise to the surface — adding a straight-line travel distance from the spot where the fish was tagged — either after a set time or if the shark dives so deep that water pressure would crush the electronics.

Two have "spot tags," designed to transmit an animal's location each time it surfaces. One has both.

The International Foundation for Animal Welfare and World Wildlife Fund provided money for the tags, which cost about $2,000 for spot tags and $3,500 to $4,200 for the pop-off tags.

Two are set to pop off in four months, two in six months and two in eight months, Hoffmayer said.

"Two of the spot tags that we put out have reported," Hoffmayer said. "Both sharks were moving east."

Photo Down Under Diver

In about 12 days, he said, one had moved about 120 miles and the other about 130 miles. One was south of Pensacola, Fla., near an underwater area called the DeSoto Canyon. The other was south of Mississippi.

The trips grew out of a larger effort to tag fish such as tuna and billfish, said Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina.

Pausina said a multispecies tagging plan may be ready to submit to NOAA within a few months.

News from Down Under

2011-09-30T16:39:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Alexandra Swanson on Earning the 20 Millionth Diver Certification

Alexandra Swanson became the recipient of the 20 millionth PADI certification when she earned her PADI Open Water Diver course certification on 4 September 2011. As a result, she'll be taking a dream dive trip to Queensland, Australia with four nights of accommodation in Cains, Queensland, Australia and a three-night excursion on the live-aboard dive vessel Spirit of Freedom. During her trip, she'll get to visit iconic Great Barrier Reef dive sites like Cod Hole and the Ribbon Reefs.

Additionally, the certifying instructor -- PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer Timmothy Aguon and PADI Five Star Instructor Development Center Micronesia Divers Association in Guam, were also awarded trips for one in celebration of the certification.

With more than 20 million diver certifications issued worldwide since 1966, PADI is The Way the World Learns to Dive®.

PADI eCards Available to Divers Next Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Project Pink Tank

Photo courtesy of Andrew Sallmon

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and marks the launch of Project Pink Tank, which looks at diver health outcomes among breast cancer survivors. The goal is to document and measure potential mental and physical benefits from diving by cancer survivors. The project also looks at the long-term effects of breast cancer therapy on diver behavior and health. The first phase of Project Pink Tank involves a web-based survey of certified breast cancer survivors.
As the number of breast cancer survivors increases, so does the number of them in the dive community. Following recovery from breast cancer, previously certified women often resume diving for exercise and mental relaxation. Ultimately, Project Pink Tank will create a platform for future research and a medical consensus conference focused on diving and general cancer survivorship.The not-for profit Rubicon Foundation, the PADI organization, Duke Dive Medicine and VR Technology are supporting Project Pink Tank. For more information, or if you meet these requirements and would like to participate, visit http://pinktank.org/.

New Products

New Product JBL Suits and Tops $84-$300

DIVE PALAU March 18-25 2012 $3230

Tusa Zen Air Computer $350

News from Down Under

2011-09-25T18:10:00.000-05:00

Well Divers it's been a pretty awesome week of diving.

Some of the best news is that our beloved Whiskey Wreck is now slightly more uncovered, thanks to Tropical Storm Lee, with depths ranging from 13' t0 15' instead of 9'.

Perdido Pass Jetties weathered the storm a little worse with a large amount of topsoil (from the the flooding) has dropped viz to a less than favourable 1' to 5' on most days. We expect this to clear up over the next few weeks.

Here are some reports from The Dive Boat this past week.

USS Allen: No current, viz: 5 to 10 ft.
Navy Tug: 80 ft viz, JT killed 3 Lionfish, Huge baitball, awesome, 2-3 ft seas.

New Barge': seas 1-2, minimal current, sunny skies, H2O 80°, 60 ft viz, Divemaster JT found a huge octopus and 1 unlucky Lionfish, covered in Black Snapper, Butterfly fish, and Pufferfish.

Navy Dive Tender 14, 40 ft viz.
JT killed 10 lionfish. Divers saw Octopus, huge spiny lobster, a Goliath grouper tons of snapper and more.

Spearfishermen from all over the state are currently competing in the month long Pleasure Island Spearfishing Classic.
Click here to learn more. Follow the tournament on Facebook.
Shou Outs

Congratulations to one of our newest Openwater Divers, Debbi Liptrot. Great job!

Congratulations to Down Under's Newest Divers - Brian Booker, Mario Narjes, and Robert Kirby all received their Open Water certs today. They brought along John Serta for a DLD just in case they needed someone to feed to the sharks.........

Check out these Sidemount Diver Videos

Lets go to PALAU!

New Product JBL Suits and Tops
$84-$300

News

2011-09-01T17:03:00.000-05:00

Hello Divers,

Well it’s been quite an eventful summer so far. I am happy to report that the Down Under ran more dive charters to date than any of the previous summers.Divers stayed safer than any of the previous seasons by executing responsible dive plans and safe diving practices.

With the help of our "infamous Captain Bert Valle" Aka the Crazy Cuban, we were able to introduce some new reefs into our pretty substantial list of sites. New Barge and Pete's 301 (Named after Pete Holmes' 301st Dive) are two new faves.

We hosted 3 successful Instructor Development Courses with 100% passing. Good Job Team and introduced over 200 new divers to our wonderful underwater world.

We found some new creatures this year including strange new Nudibranchs, Oscillated frog fish, a 100lb Sea Sturgeon, and a Husker's Conger Eel.

Thank you all for making this a spectacular season. Even though the retail center is closed Mondays and Tuesdays after this week, the Down Under will still be running daily. We are just a phone call away.

Please dont forget to check out our upcoming dive vacations:

Key Largo Oct 24

Manatee Trip Second Weekend of Feb and March

Palau March 18 (only four spots left!)

Congratulations to all of the newly certified dive leaders!

IDC Staff Instructors: Hugh Headrick & Jim Mahan

PADI Specialty Instructor: Brandon Williams

Divemasters: Cheynne Milan, John Kovalchick, Adventure Steve, and Donnie Breece.

Dive Report and News

2011-07-23T17:33:00.000-05:00

Hello Divers,
It's time for an update on what's been going on at Down Under Dive Shop.

Dive Report:

The last few weeks has offered up some amazing dive adventures.
The USS Oriskany has been rocking out 100' plus viz almost every day that we've been out.

Photo by Jon Coon

Our new favorite site Pete's Patch, has been producing rare encounters from Lila's Oscillated Frogfish to giant blue Nudibranchs.

Photo by Lila Harris

Phot by Lila Harris

Divers also spotted huge loggerhead sea turtles on the Libertyship Allen.

Viz has been hit or miss on Rome and always 50'-100' on the wreck of the Navy Tug.

If you missed the Blue Angels Air Show BBQ/Dive Boat Extravaganza be sure to sign up early for the next one. Nov. 12 Includes 2 Dives, BBQ, and Drinks, Non Divers are Welcome. $165 pp.
For more info on our famous fighter pilots go here : http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/show/

Snorkelers aboard our sistership the Dolphin Down Under were blown away by an encounter of a life time this past week.
Instructor and Snorkel Guide Eric Waller was all smiles when he said "Out of the blue a big ole' manatee just swims up behind me and gave me snuggle." How awesome.

Overall viz and seas have been great so far this summer: Avg Viz 35'-100', seas have been mild except around thunders storms.
Water temps have been a bit cooler (Good for viz and weather) ranging from 80+ to 69+ degrees.

Click Here to learn more about our Dive Charters

Dive Vacations:

August 27- September 3 Bahamas Sail and Dive

October 24-29 Key Largo

March 18-25 Palau Live Aboard

(Space is limitted, contact Bryan Eslava to sign up today!)

Dive Courses:

Nitrox Online $195 includes 2 Nitrox Rentals (2hrs of your life for maximum bottom time)

Sidemount Diver $200 ($400 with with Sidemount Rental)

Photo by Jon Coon

Sidemount diving enables a unique way of buoyancy control resulting in a more streamlined profile that reduces drag making finning and moving through the water easier and more efficient. Offers a greater comfort level as sidemount equipment and harness can be custom fit to each individual, accommodating divers of all shapes and sizes. Great for divers with any disabilities, as you carry the cylinder(s) separate from your harness to the water. Whilst within the water you would then attach your cylinders and weights, making the entries and exits to dive sites much easier. Safer option in terms of air management as you have an easier access to your cylinder valve(s), first stage(s) and alternate regulator should a problem arise. One harness and BCD does it all. This statement is now true as the same sidemount equipment you use, can be used for more advanced types of diving i.e wreck, technical and cave diving."

Sample Schedule

Day 1 Sidemount Equipment Orientation, Confined Water Dives

Day 2 Openwater Dives 1-3

Ocean Reef Full Face Mask Diver

Weekend Dive Report

2011-06-28T13:57:00.000-05:00

Weekend Dive Report
Saturday:
Pick Up Stix Viz 40'-50' Temp 72 Current Mild
This new artificial reef structure forms a half moon semi-circle around the Western Edge of the Three Barges.
The sight was loaded with Grunts, Gag Grouper, huge bait balls, and Spanish Mackerel.

3 Coal Barges Viz 40'-50' Temp 72 Current Mild
The three barges were loaded with tropicals as always.
We enjoyed seeing puffers, Toadfish, butterflies, huge Glass and Fire Anemones.
Divers enjoyed navagating the barges using reels and lines to go from barge to barge.
How about the hardcore Ausie freediver that paddled his kayak over 4 miles out to freedive the site.

Sunday:
Navy Tug: Viz 60' Temp 70 Current None
The 90' Navy Tug was teaming with marine life. Huge great barracuda, amber jacks, snapper, blennies, and Bryan showed some of the divers a rare shovel nosed lobster.

151 Push Tug: Viz 30' Temp 70 Current Very Mild
The little tug wasn't at her best that day. The site normally sports better viz than others and resident sharks always make the dive exciting. Divers enjoyed the big Leopard Spotted Toads and Angelfish. How about those door matt Gulf Flounders Whoohoo!

Monday:
The USS Wallace: Viz 30' Temp 72 Current Mild
With the much needed rain moving in and overcast clouds viz wasn't its best today.
The Wallace was our best choice to get any viz over 5'.

Southwind Barge:
See above.

Weekend Dive Report

2011-06-11T16:23:00.000-05:00

G'day Divers,

It was another awesome weekend of diving.

Thursday the Crew of the Down Under was joined by Course Director Sam Rutherford and his team from Skin N Scuba.

We set off for an afternoon dive and made our way to the rubble site 9 miles south/southwest of perdido pass.

The waves and current were up and so was the viz. Divers enjoyed 40' of viz and mild temps.

Fish were abundant and so were the sharks.

Friday Mitch lead the Tec team on a 72 min deep run on the Oriskany. Seas were flat and Viz was over 100'.

Saturday the crew made way to Notch Barge and Navy Tug. Viz was 80' on the huge ocean going barge and as far as the eye could see on the Tug. Everyone enjoyed getting see the big bull in its natural habitat. What a rare sight.

Dive Report

2011-06-02T17:32:00.000-05:00

Today was a great day on the Gulf.

The Crew of the Down Under made way to Atlantis this morning. Seas started off at 3' then died down to nothing.

We weren't very impressed with the surface viz, but we were stunned to see nearly 50' of viz past 15'. Water Temp was nearly 80 up top and 73 on bottom.

There were snapper everywhere. Bryan and team also found that huge conger eel again. That thing is cool.

After an hour and twenty minute surface interval (who dives tables anyway?) I kid, I kid :)

We sought out our long lost old faithful site, Pillars and Flats.

The fallen over columns were just as cool as I remember them. Viz was 30' and coolest temp was 72.

We saw loads of blue angels and leopard spotted toads. It rocked.

Wreck diving Saturday and Sunday don't miss out. NOAA says its supposed to be flat.

Sign up today!

Down Under Dive Shop's Mitch and John diving in the Bahamas

2011-05-31T18:42:00.000-05:00

News

2011-05-31T16:53:00.000-05:00

The IQ-900 Zen is a full-featured wrist-top computer that boasts a refined, stylish design and can be worn at the office, on the town or more importantly in the ocean. Anytime, anywhere the Zen is your go to timepiece and dive instrument.
The IQ-900 can be operated as a watch, Air computer, Nitrox (EANx) computer, digital depth gauge/timer or as a free dive depth gauge/timer. The Zen's large alphanumeric and backlit display allows for high legibility in or out of the water, although its size is that of a normal style watch. In addition to offering the latest comprehensive computer features, the Zen adds a Deep Stop function for enhanced safety. $350

The IQ-950 Zen Air is TUSA's most advanced and full-featured wrist-top computer. Built on the stylish design and platform of the IQ-900 Zen, the Zen Air is even further enhanced by adding hoseless air-integration, several advanced user-adjustable settings and the ability to program up to 3 transmitters and 3 gas mixes from 21%-100%.
The Zen Air's large alphanumeric and backlit LCD screen clearly displays all the critical dive data including tank pressure(s), air-time and no-decompression time remaining, current/max depth, safety stop, deep stop and much more. Of course, the IQ-950 can be operated as a watch, Nitrox (EANx) computer, digital depth gauge/timer or as a free dive depth gauge/timer and with or without a transmitter. $799

SMS100 Sidemount System

The SMS100 Sidemount system was designed not just with the sidemount cave divers in mind, but any diver. Whether you are a beginner, advanced or technical diver, this kit was designed for you. Suitable for sidemounting twin or single cylinders, but also for use with rebreathers or rear mounted singles. This "go anywhere" system can be used in any environment from open water to the overhead environment.

SIZES >> SM-MD / LG-XL / XXL
•Full visibility over your system
•Reduces additional gear: Doubles bands / Hardware / Manifold - Benefit when traveling
•Aids in transporting gear to and from the beach or boat - one tank at a time
•Streamlines profile which in turn reduces drag increasing your bottom time

$759

PADI SIDEMOUNT DIVER

Date: Scheduled upon request

Price: $400 (Includes Sidemount Rental)

Sidemount diving enables a unique way of buoyancy control resulting in a more streamlined profile that reduces drag making finning and moving through the water easier and more efficient. Offers a greater comfort level as sidemount equipment and harness can be custom fit to each individual, accommodating divers of all shapes and sizes. Great for divers with any disabilities, as you carry the cylinder(s) separate from your harness to the water. Whilst within the water you would then attach your cylinders and weights, making the entries and exits to dive sites much easier. Safer option in terms of air management as you have an easier access to your cylinder valve(s), first stage(s) and alternate regulator should a problem arise. One harness and BCD does it all. This statement is now true as the same sidemount equipment you use, can be used for more advanced types of diving i.e wreck, technical and cave diving."

Sample Schedule

Day 1 Sidemount Equipment Orientation, Confined Water Dives
Day 2 Openwater Dives 1-3

Sea Life Mini II

Compact, rugged, easy to-use-the Mini II is ready for adventure
Depth tested waterproof to 130 feet, rubber armored for a sure grip and shockproof tested up to 6ft/2m. Made for SCUBA divers, snorkelers, boaters, hikers, paddlers and any fun-seeking adventurer.
Large, wide-spread controls for easy operation and no complicated menus. The Easy Setup on-screen guide ensures the camera is set correctly for great pictures on land or underwater. No more blue pictures with the Dive and Snorkel modes with underwater color booster.
Let your creativity shine with the SPY mode. SPY mode lets the camera do all the work - It takes continuous pictures at set time intervals. Capture those impossible pictures when you can't get close to the subject.
As easy to expand as it is to use, for breathtaking panoramic shots, add the optional wide angle lens which allows close up pictures to within 1ft / 30cm and increases the shooting angle by 33% so you can fit everything in the picture. To bring vibrant colorful pictures while diving, add the SeaLife Digital Pro Flash.

Waterproof, Shockproof, crushproof……Adventureproof
This is one truly ruggedized camera ready to withstand the most punishing environments!

Starting at $259.95

Weekend Dive Report (May 22)

2011-05-26T17:37:00.000-05:00

G'day Divers,
We were joined by the crew of Harry's Dive Shop, including the Miss Cindy herself.
The fog lifted and openend up our view to flat seas, so the Down Under made its way to the 109 tug.

We tied in and the and Harry's cre hit the water, Viz was about 60' and water temp was 73.

JT Found an awesome crab and loads of jacks were schooling the wreck.

After a surface interval JT carved up some Down Under style pineapple we headed to Atlantis North Peice.

We seamed to have caught Atlantis on an outgoing tide Viz was about 15' and water temp was 69. Divers back around the structures and encountered an octopus and Bryan and Kaitlin found a huge conger eel.

Thank's Harry's.

Congratulations to our Newest Instructors!

2011-05-26T17:24:00.000-05:00

In these past few weeks divers from around the Southeast joined up with Down Under Dive Shop to fufill their lifelong goal of becoming PADI Scuba Instructors.

Here is a photo diary of the rigorous PADI Instuctor Development Course (IDC) and Two Day Instructor Examination (IE).

Weekend Dive Report

2011-05-15T18:30:00.000-05:00

G'day Divers,

The day started off on a low as Sea Reaper returned from an offshore fishing trip with word of big seas.
We decided since everyone was up and loaded we would poke our heads out at the farewell buoy and see what was up.
As the mourning drew on the winds died down and it turned out to be pretty flat, yeehaw, the dive was on.
With no waves bigger than 2' within 10 miles the Down Under made its way to the USS Allen Liberty Ship.
We tied in and the Advanced Open Water Students with Gary from Dive Pros and Bryan's Wreck Instructor Candidates had a blast exploring the 450' WWII vet. Amber jack and cow fish were everywhere. Viz was about 40' and water temp was 73.

After a surface interval JT carved up some Down Under style pineapple we headed to Atlantis North Peice.
Divers navigated back and forth between the structures and encountered flounder, blue angels, and spotted toads. Viz and temp were the same. A beastly current whipped up as the winds changed and the Intro to tec Divers learned the necessity of a Diver SMB. You can see those tings mile away. All in all another great week of diving.

Meet the Crew of the Down Under

2011-05-14T21:33:00.000-05:00

The Vessel: The Down Under

The “DOWN UNDER” is a 46’ Newton Dive Special. This custom dive boat has every amenity a diver needs, and then some. Powered by twin 375 hp turbo diesel engines, speed is not a problem. This dive boat can truly make your diving more enjoyable, with two large dive ladders, plenty of gear stowage, upper deck seating, fresh water showers, waterline platform, two camera tables, roomy dive deck, and 72 tank racks.

Captain: Bert Valle (Aka: The Crazy Cuban)

Captain Bert has been a part of the Down Under Team since the early 90s.
His background with diving spans nearly 30 years he has trained hundreds of divers along the gulf coast and has owned two dive centers. Bert is an avid travel guide and is an experienced dive boat Captain. If you've missed him the past few years, it's because he left Down Under for a time to take over as Head Captain for the Belize Dancer, a 135' live aboard yacht. I can only think of a handful of local captain's with that kind of experience.

Divemaster/Mate: Jason "JT" Thomas

JT started diving with Down Under Dive Shop nearly ten years ago. JT is a very experienced Gulf Diver with over 200 logged Gulf Dives. JT is also an Emergency Medical Responder as his background as a Firefighter would require.

Divemaster/Deckhand: Eric Waller

Eric is new to diving but it is rare to find someone so dedicated. In this year alone he logged nearly 100 dives and obtained the Master Diver Certification and the PADI Divemaster rating. Eric is also an Emergency Medical Responder as he worked as very well known EMT in his previous life. Eric is in culinary school training to be a master chef and currently enrolled in Down Under's IDC. His dream is to crew a dive luxury yacht as dive team or chef.

Instructor: Marcie May

Marcie is a Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Full Cave Diver, Cavern Instructor, boat captain and best of all a massage therapist. She loves spearfishing and training divers. During the summer this is pretty much all she does. During the winter she and her husband, Steve, enjoy dive travel to exotic locations such as Belize and Honduras.

For more info on our dive charters click here.

Down Under Dive Shop wins the Army Ranger Award of Excellence

2011-05-11T18:32:00.002-05:00

Wow how many dive shops can say that?

We can say we have participated in allot of pretty cool events over the last fifteen years but this by far ranks amongst the best.

Allot of Rangers and allot of gear.

Combat Diver

It all started on a foggy Tuesday morning when Divers from The United States Army 4th and 6th Ranger Training Battalions were granted permission to board the Down Under. The Down Under made its way to the world's largest wreck, the USS Oriskany. The combat divers geared up in their doubles and were guided by the crew rigged in sidemount gear lead the deep mission. The current was defiantly a force to be reckoned with but dive teams were stoked about the 100'+ viz. The underwater comm systems were amazing and worked like a champ. We could here topside clear as a bell 100+ metres away. I could get used to that. Once the mission objectives were complete we fired up the grill.

These guys do it right

The Down Under, with all divers accounted for, pulled the mooring system and headed for shallow waters.

With the Southwind Barge being our shallowest Reef, the combat divers found themselves the perfect opp for working on navigation skills. How some of those guys made it back to the up line, I will never know. (I guess that's just what Rangers do)

On Wednesday the Team loaded the boat and cast off bright and early. Our first objective was the wreck, Navy Tug 101. Once we punched through the murk layer and viz was 100' at the bottom. Bryan "found" some members of team 1 and 2 a nice little 5' bull shark to play with.

Dive Supervisors Planning the Dives

With missions complete we relocated to Atlantis Bridge Rubble.

Viz was iffy but the dive was a blast. The crew ran guidelines for the combat divers so they could explore both structures. One team got the chance to dive with a really big 200 lbs loggerhead sea turtle.

Rescue Scenario

The coolest thing, was watching the dive medics in action during the injured diver scenario. Those guys have awesome equipment and really know their stuff.

All in all it was the most awesome experience. The crew of the Down Under is very proud to have been part of it and we are for ever grateful to you for your service to our country.

Down Under is presented the Certificate of Appreciation and Awards of Excellence

The crew of the Down Under and the men of the 4th and 6th RTB

"Rangers lead the way!"

Weekend Dive Report

2011-05-09T00:48:00.000-05:00

G'day Divers,

What better way is there to spend Mother's Day then diving an awesome wreck your family.
Down Under surprised our diving moms with free tanks and weights on this Mother's Day Diving Event.

Instructor Jim Mahan ready to take the plunge with Holly.

Everyone was happy about the flat seas, bright sunshine, and clear water on our way to the Navy Tug. It's always a good sign when nobody showed up with bananas and dolphins were playing at the end of the dock.

We were blown away by the nearly 100' viz and schooling almaco jacks that greeted us upon descent. Water temp was 74, still wetsuit weather but its getting there. We saw many damsels and loads of arrow crabs. Beth's team even found the tiny spotted morray.

On the ascent Bryan, Morgan and Chris encountered a nice sanbar shark. Sweet!

Divemaster Neal gives everyone the heads up.

Of course the divers that didn't see it didn't believe Morgan. So they had to go see for them selves. Isn't the right Eric. Hehe.

After a nice surface interval and some fresh "Down Under Style" Pineapple. The crew made their way to Atlantis bridge rubble.

After crossing a rather nasty tide line we feared we had lost our good luck with the viz. Divemaster JT called out "Ok, who is hiding a banana on board?"

Iphone and a dive knife recovered by the Advanced Open Water Divers on the Search and Recovery Dive.

We were all pleasantly surprised to find that the murk was only on the surface and the viz was about 40'. Divemaster candidates practiced rescue drills and and mapped the artificial reef to get up to date depth readings on the different sections for later briefings.

"The" spalsh was a bit surprising as big "fish' jumped out of the water in front of bow. (you will have to ask Divemaster JT about that) Haha.

Congratulations to Jim's student, Holly Gray on being Down Under's newest certified diver.
Beth's team did an excellent job of completing their final Adventure Dives to obtain the Advanced Open Water Diver Certification, yay to Micheal Gray, Kevin Johnson, and Jennifer Jacobs.
And how about a round of applause to Neal Baum and Eric Waller on completing the coveted PADI Divemaster Course. Good job guys, Go Pro!

All in all it was a great day of diving.

Instructor Beth Schrader takes us on a tour of the sites we dove today.

Neptune Space G-Diver Full Face Mask

2011-05-05T23:46:00.000-05:00

Neptune Space G Diver with GSM Com Unit

The OCEAN REEF Neptune Series provides a revolutionary take on the full face mask. They offer great visual fields, superior comfort, reliability, exceptional safety, durability, AND they are easy to use! Whether you are a professional or commercial diver, or just a person who feels like picking up the sport of scuba diving; the OCEAN REEF Neptune Series has a mask tailored just for you!

The Neptune Space is the latest and most innovative mask in the Neptune Series. It has been designed with technical experience gained through 10 years of full face mask manufacturing.

State-of-the-art integrated regulator
Reduced internal volume
Improved visual field; visible light transfer of visor is 92%
Premium grade silicone rubber bellows-type skirt (30-45 mm, double that of a conventional mask)
Durable, scratch-resistant visor
4-position adjustable exhaust valve
Patented 3-D equalization system
Newly designed quick release system
Six strap head harness with low elasticity and FRB (Fast Rotating Buckle), providing firm mask positioning and quick mask donning and doffing
Integrated surface air valve
Easy access rubber purge button
Techpolymer protection treatments allow for use in extreme conditions
Total weight of 860 g (1.89 lbs) and a positive buoyancy of 400 g (0.89 lbs), providing a light and comfortable fit
Can be used with a communication unit and various Neptune System accessories
Mask comes in two sizes, medium/large and small/medium
Optional accessory: Special adaptor allowing for connection of several kinds of regulators (two adaptor sizes, medium (standard) and small)

Cobalt White Pink Emerald

The Neptune Space is specifically designed for professional and high performance applications and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
The Neptune Space complies with CE Certification in accordance with 89/689/EEC directives under the UNI EN250 standard rules for underwater activities, including low temperatures (<50 degrees F).

Don't forget to ask about Down Under Dive Shop's Ocean Reef Full Face Mask Distinctive Specialty Diver Course it's fun and it's easy.

Price:
Neptune Space G Diver: $595
Neptune Space G Diver with GSM Com Unit: $985
Pro Model: Starting at $900
Full Face Mask Specialty Diver Course: $195 (Included with Purchase)
Full Face Mask Specialty Diver Instructor Course: $250 (Included with Purchase of Pro model)

Divemaster

2011-05-05T00:06:00.000-05:00

PADI Divemaster Course

Looking for the first step in working with scuba as a career? Your adventure into the professional levels of recreational scuba diving begins with the PADI Divemaster program. Working closely with a PADI Instructor, in this program you expand your dive knowledge and hone your skills to the professional level. PADI Divemaster training develops your leadership abilities, qualifying you to supervise dive activities and assist instructors with student divers. PADI Divemaster is the prerequisite certification for both the PADI Assistant Instructor and PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certifications.

Get started now with Divemaster Online!

What You Learn

During the PADI Divemaster program, you learn dive leadership skills through both classroom and independent study. You complete water skills and stamina exercises, as well as training exercises that stretch your ability to organize and solve problems as well as help others improve their scuba. You put this knowledge into action through a structured internship or series of practical training exercises.

What You Can Teach

After becoming certified as a PADI Divemaster you will be authorized to:

Supervise both training and non-training-related activities by planning, organizing and directing dives
Assist a PADI Instructor during the training sessions for any PADI Diver course
Conduct the PADI Skin Diver course and PADI Discover Snorkeling program
Conduct the PADI Discover Local Diving experience
Conduct the PADI Scuba Review program
If qualified as a Discover Scuba Diving Leader, independently conduct the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program.
Earn the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty Instructor rating to be able to teach the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer specialty.
Independently guide Open Water Diver course students on the tour portion of Open Water Diver course Training Dives 2, 3 and 4 at a ratio of two student divers per certified divemaster.
Accompany Open Water Diver students under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor during:
- surface swims to and from the entry/exit point and during navigational exercises
- when the instructor conducts a skill, such as an ascent or descent, a Divemaster can remain with other student divers (with an individual student or buddy team)
Accompany student divers during Adventure Dives or Specialty training dives under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor.
Conduct the PADI Seal Team Skin Diver Specialist AquaMission
Conduct subsequent dives under an instructor’s indirect supervision for Discover Scuba Diving participants after participants have satisfactorily completed the first dive with a PADI Instructor.
Teach Emergency First Response courses after successfully completing an Emergency First Response Instructor course.

At a glance, compare what you can teach when you continue your professional diver education.

The Scuba Gear You Use

You use all the basic scuba equipment and some scuba accessories such as a dive slate, dive knife, compass, dive watch, etc.
It is highly recommended that you own all of your own scuba equipment, as familiarity with personal gear improves general scuba diving skills. You can find most everything at Down Under Dive Shop.

The Learning Materials You Need

The PADI Divemaster crewpak includes everything you’ll need to start the PADI Divemaster program. The complete set of materials includes:

The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving - a comprehensive overview of diving physics, physiology, and equipment.
Divemaster slates
PADI Divemaster Manual
CD-ROM with instructor outlines for Divemaster-conducted programs (exclusive item not available for purchase separately)

You also have the option to take Divemaster Online and purchase the Divemaster eLearning Crew-Pak.
To purchase Crew-Paks, contact us at Down Under Dive Shop.
For Divemaster Online, you can sign up today.

Prerequisites

To take this course, you must be:

18 years old
A PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
A PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
An Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (or qualifying first aid and CPR training from another organization) course completion within the past 24 months.
Have at least 40 dives to begin the course and 60 for certification
Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement (PDF) signed by a physician within the last 12 months.

Course Dates

May 28th

June 25th
July 30th
August 27th
September 24th
Alternate Schedules are available. (see private course package)

Sample Schedule
Training Day 1
Classroom	Welcome and Introduction The Role and Characteristics of a PADI Divemaster
Pool	Waterskills and Stamina Exercises One and Two Confined Water Skills Assessments and Developments
Independent Study	Chapters 1 and 2 of the Divemaster Manual PADI Divemaster Video
Training Day 2
Classroom	Supervising General Diving Activities for Certified Divers Assisting with Students in Training
Pool	Waterskills and Stamina : Exercises Three and Four Confined Water Skills Assessments and Developments Training Exercise Two : Equipment Exchange Diver-Rescue Assessment Confined Waterskills Assessment
Independent Study	The Physics of Diving The Physiology of Diving Chapter 3 and 4 of the Divemaster Manual Equipment : Chapters 5 and 6 of the Divemaster Manual
Training Day 3
Classroom	Divemaster Conducted Programs Topic 10: Risk Management
Pool	Divemaster Conducted Programs – Required Training Exercise Three
Independent Study	Decompression Theory and the RDP Chapter 7 of the Divemaster Manual
Training Day 4
Classroom	Dive Theory Introduction Topic 5: The Physics of Diving – review and answer questions Topic 6: The Physiology of Diving – review and answer questions
Pool	Makeup and Remedial Training Internship and/or Practical Training Exercises - 1
Independent Study	Chapters 8 and 9 of the Divemaster Manual
Training Day 5
Classroom	Equipment – review and answer questions Topic 8: Decompression Theory and the RDP –review and answer questions Topic 11: The Business of Diving
Pool	Practical Internship and/or Practical Training Exercises - 2
Training Week 6
Classroom	Furthering Your Dive Career Divemaster Exams
Pool	Practical Internship and/or Practical Training Exercises - 3
Training Day 7
Final Outing	Graduation Dive
Required Open Water Exercise	Mapping Project
Classroom	Positive Selling Approach.

Course Fees
Divemaster Course Package $800 (includes Elearning, Enhancement Crew-pak 6 Days of Diving, 2 Two Tank Charters, DSD Internship, Two DSD Vouchers for Friends or Family, Tanks and Weights)

Private Divemaster Course Package $1000 (includes a personalized schedule, Elearning, Enhancement Crew-pak, 6 Days of Diving, 2 Two Tank Charters, DSD Internship, Two DSD Vouchers for Friends or Family, Tanks and Weights)

Divemaster Core Course Only $500 (6 Days of Diving, 2 Two Tank Charters, and Tanks and Weights)

Contact us today!
Dive Shop: 251-968-3483
Email: info@downunderdiveshop.com

Bahamas Sail and Dive Liveaboard "Adventure at Sea" September 10th-17th

2011-05-01T18:38:00.000-05:00

Blackbeard's Cruises offers Liveaboard scuba diving travel vacations to the Bahamas Out Islands. We offer the Caribbean's largest variety of diving including shark dives, walls, high speed drift dives including the Washing Machine, night dives, blue holes and the beautiful coral reefs of the Exumas Land & Sea Park. Our 3 sailboats; Sea Explorer, Morning Star and Pirate's Lady depart Nassau every Saturday for a week of live aboard diving in the Exumas, SW Eleuthera & Little San Sal in the Central Bahamas. The camaraderie and adventure on our liveaboard dive trips keep divers coming back year after year. Our motto is "Twice the Fun for Half the Price"....you won't get a better bang out of your diving dollar anywhere else!

Dive the Caribbean's largest underwater park, the Exumas Land & Sea Park. Divers can experience deep sea diving on the many beautiful walls. Sharks are a big draw for divers! See Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, even tiger sharks on the sandy banks! Colorful reefs teeming with marine life sit in depths of 15- 80 feet so divers of all levels enjoy the scuba diving we offer on our Bahamas scuba diving vacations!

The central Bahamas were once the hideout of pirates and privateers... now these islands offer spectacular diving in warm, crystal clear waters with deserted beaches as backdrop each week during our adventure travel vacations. Visit Allen's Cay to feed the iguanas or Staniel Cay for the swimming pigs and the Thunderball Grotto.

There is no set itinerary- we go where conditions and weather are the best to offer our divers an adventure of a lifetime! Live-aboards offer the best variety of diving available- dive with sharks at Amberjack Reef, watch eagle rays gracefully glide by the walls, get tumbled around on our high speed drift dive, the Washing Machine or shoot photos of all the great macro and micro shots you'll see in the gin clear water of the Bahamas. Blackbeard's Cruises is recognized by divers as one of the best live aboard experiences available year after year!

Scuba diving travel with us is a breeze! Our all inclusive scuba diving adventure travel vacations are popular with outgoing individuals from all over the world! We supply everything but your personal gear and towels. Blackbeard's Cruises offers top of the line high quality rental gear for those who require it. Our sailboats carry up to 22 passengers in dormitory style bunks. While there isn't a lot of privacy, the fun and adventure more than makes up for it.

Weekend Dive Report

2011-05-01T16:40:00.000-05:00

G'day mates,
It's time for your weekend dive report.

Divers aboard the Down Under 1 were happy when the seas calmed down enough to head out Saturday morning.
Because of the huge storm front from earlier in the week viz wasn't at it best on the Allen Liberty ship. None the less divers enjoyed an excellent wreck dive surrounded by Schools of Atlantic Spadefish on one of history's famous WWII military cargo ships. Congratulations to Jessica Polk, Anthony Norman, JJ Blackmon, and Eric Waller as this dive completed their Advanced Open Water Diver Certification.

Standard Liberty Ship Design (Decks removed from diveable liberties)

We headed in to the Southwind Barge for the last dive of the day. Instructor Jim Mahan and team encountered Blue Angels, a Grey Angel and even a queen, viz was about the same.
Water Temp was 74-69.

Sunday Down Under Dive Shop was joined by our fellow Scubapro Platinum Dealer John Gaffne's Round Island Divers for a run out to the USS Oriskany.
Seas were still a bit on the gnarly side but Viz was around 100' and water temps the same as Saturday.
Instructor Lila Harris encountered a Loggerhead Sea turtle that followed her around the carrier.
Awesome!

Down Under Dive Shop & Boy Scouts of America Diving Event

2011-04-26T17:27:00.000-05:00

Saturday May 7th, 2011 join Down Under Dive Shop, PADI, and Vortex Springs as they host the Boy Scout Diving Event. The event starts at 10 am with orientation, dive briefings, and gearing up.

11:00 am Event 1: Scouts new to diving will experience scuba for the first time in shallow waters with our professional scuba instructors via Discover Scuba Diving. Certified Scouts will take this time to do a quick scuba tune-up, to review skills. Scouts participating in this event will earn credit for Confined water Dive 1 and Open Water Dive 1, for the Open Water Diver Course.

12:30 - 1:30pm LUNCH

2:00 pm Event 2: Search and Recovery workshop. Certified Scouts will practice Search and Recovery techniques using underwater navigation and search lines to locate missing/lost objects. Non-certified Scouts will use snorkling techniques during this event.

3:00 pm Event 3: Introduction to Full Face Mask diving. Certified Scouts will experience using Ocean Reef's Neptune Space full face masks in shallow waters.

4:00 pm Event 4: Communication under water. Non-certified Scouts will learn to assist divers who are using full face masks to recover objects.

Contact Bryan Eslava to sign your Scouts up today.
padi190853@gmail.com
251-979-8459 Cell

The cost of each event is $25.00 per Scout.

Down Under Dive Shop, PADI and BSA Bring Scuba to Scouts

2011-04-26T17:12:00.000-05:00

Much like scouting, the overall philosophy of scuba encourages the quest for adventure. It is a life changing experience that enables young men and women to embrace challenges in a whole new way. That first breath underwater; the feeling of total weightlessness as you embark into a foreign world enables you to be part of something so powerful it transforms your life!

Achievement of the Scuba Diving merit badge will result in a PADI Open Water Diver Certification. This is a lifetime certification that is only the first step into an endless world of new experiences, adventure and fun.

This is a NEW Merit Badge.

Requirements for Merit Badge

1.Complete knowledge development via Online Course (must be 13yrs of age or older) or the Knowledge Reviews of the Open Water Diver Manual.
a.Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while scuba diving, including hypothermia, hyperventilation, squeezes, decompression illness, nitrogen narcosis, motion sickness, fatigue, overexertion, heat reactions, dehydration, injuries by aquatic life, and cuts and scrapes.

b.Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person, and explain how to recognize such conditions. Demonstrate the proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.

2.Before completing requirements 3 through 6, earn the Swimming merit badge.

3.Discuss the Scuba Diver’s Code with your merit badge counselor, and explain the importance of each guideline to a scuba diver’s safety.

4.Earn an Open Water Diver Certification from a scuba organization recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy.

5.Explain what an ecosystem is, and describe four aquatic ecosystems a diver might experience.

6. Find out about three career opportunities in the scuba industry. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

Minimum Course Content for Open Water Diver Certification

The following abbreviated list represents the RSTC “Minimum Course Content for Open Water Diver Certification.” It is not intended as a complete outline of learning objectives for an Open Water Diver course. Development of learning objectives is left to the respective training agencies.

During the Open Water Diver course you can look forward to learning basic scuba theory and developing entry-level scuba skills required for certification. All scuba instruction must meet the minimum training standards for Entry-Level Scuba Certification set by the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). Your course will consist of the topics and scuba skills required by the training organization and as outlined in this section. At a minimum, the following will be covered.

1.Equipment. Learn the physical description, operating principles, maintenance, and use of the following equipment items—face mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, exposure suit, weights and weight system, float and flag, cylinders, valves, regulators/air-delivery system, submersible pressure gauge, alternate air source, timing device, compass, depth gauge, dive table or dive computers, knife.

2.Physics of Diving. Learn the physical principles of matter and their application to diving activities and hazards.

3.Medical Problems Related to Diving. Learn the causes, symptoms, prevention, and first-aid and treatment of diving medical problems.

4.Decompression Theory and Use of Dive Tables and/or Dive Computers. Learn how to determine no-decompression limits for single and repetitive dives, plus how to use dive tables and/or dive computers to properly plan and execute a dive.

5.Dive Environment. Learn information on the local and general conditions of the diving environment and their possible effects on the diver.

6.General Topics. Learn information on dive planning, underwater and surface communications, diver assistance, recommended diving practices (including safety stops), procedures for diving from boats, proper use of personal diving logbook, and local dive regulations and protocols.

7.Pool/Confined Water Scuba Skills. Learn and practice the following scuba skills in a pool or confined water.

◦Diving system assembly and disassembly

◦Equipment inspection (at water’s edge)

◦Entries and exits

◦Proper weighting

◦Mouthpiece clearing—snorkel and regulator

◦Regulator/snorkel exchanges at the surface

◦Controlled descents and ascents

◦Underwater swimming

◦Mask-clearing, including removal and replacement

◦Underwater exercises—with and without mask

◦Buddy-system techniques

◦Underwater and surface buoyancy control

◦Underwater problem-solving (regulator recovery/retrieval, etc.)

◦Surface-snorkel swimming with full diving system

◦Surface operation of the quick release/emergency function of the weight system

◦Underwater removal and replacement of scuba system

◦Underwater removal and replacement of the weight/ballast system

◦Out-of-air emergency alternatives, including at least one dependent procedure and one independent procedure

◦Equipment care and maintenance (at water’s edge)

8.Open Water Scuba Skills. Perform the following scuba skills while diving in open water.

◦Equipment inspection (at water’s edge)

◦Entries and exits

◦Proper Weighting

◦Mouthpiece clearing—snorkel and regulator

◦Regulator/snorkel exchanges at the surface

◦Controlled descents and ascents

◦Underwater swimming

◦Mask-clearing

◦Buddy-system techniques

◦Underwater and surface buoyancy control

◦Diver assistance techniques (self/buddy)

◦Surface-snorkel swimming with full diving system

◦Removal and replacement of weight/ballast system

◦Removal and replacement of scuba system

◦Out-of-air emergency alternatives

◦Equipment care and maintenance (at water’s edge)

◦Underwater navigation

Notes for Requirement 4:

Scuba industry standards for Open Water Diver Certification require the student to be at least 15 years of age. Students under the minimum age who meet open water scuba performance requirements may qualify for a special certification that allows them to dive with an adult buddy who has, as a minimum, an open water scuba certification. Several of the scuba organizations recognized by the BSA offer “junior” open water certifications for those as young as 10; others have a minimum age of 12. Such junior open water diver certifications satisfy Scuba Diving merit badge requirement 4.

Scouts who have already earned an Open Water Diver Certification outside of a BSA activity from a scuba agency recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy may still earn the Scuba Diving merit badge by earning the Swimming merit badge and completing all other listed requirements.

Price: $350 (includes Elearning, Rental Gear, 5 Confined Water Dives and upto 5 Open Water Dives)

Weekend of Dive Report

2011-04-23T20:31:00.000-05:00

Hey Guys and Gals,

Down Under Dive Shop was joined by Harry's Dive Shop for a day of adventure.

Seas were a little sloppy at 2' to 4' but the diving was amazing!
We started the day with a dive on the Pete's Tidewater Crew Boat.
Water Temp was 73 on the surface and 68 at 100'
Viz was 30' up top and 75' at depth.
Divers were surprised by the underwater Easter Egg Hunt on the wreck, how awesome was that?

TIDEWATER Crewboat

YDT

After some fresh pineapple and a little offgasing we dropped in on the YDT 14. Viz was even better there.

Divers were swarmed by Atlantic spadefish, amberjack, great barracuda, red snapper, and Divemaster Bryan

killed the first Lionfish spotted in this are of the Gulf by Down Under.

To learn more about this invasive species click here.

Congrats to Kaitlin on completing her Advanced Open Water Course, Woot Woot!

We are sure everyone could have lived with out the big rollers and the mooring breaking free from seas, but that's all part of the adventure of wreck diving.

Thanks to everyone that joined us today.

See you in the big blue, er emerald blue, I guess.
Well what ever see ya next time.
Happy Easter.
Click here for more info on our charters.

Weekend of Dive Report

2011-04-08T18:35:00.000-05:00

Hello Divers,

Thursday, divers aboard the Down Under enjoyed diving Atlantis Collums and the Wreck of the Southwind Barge. Seas were 2'-3' and viz was only 20' at its best and the water is warming up at 70 degrees. Everyone was happy to just get wet.

Check out the photos, by PADI's Southeast Regional Sales Rep, Jon Coon.

New Masks, Fins, and Snorkels in Today

2011-04-06T13:43:00.000-05:00

Ghost $60

•Frameless design

•Unique white silicone is ultra soft to fit a wide range of divers

•Ultra Low volume single lens for a wide field of vision

•Ultra Clear Lenses

Sprite $54

•Frameless design created for the smaller face

•Unique white silicone is ultra soft to fit a wide range of divers

•Low volume single lens for a wide field of vision

Action $54

•Unique hybrid design gives the benefits of a frameless mask with the strength of a subframe.

•Low volume single lens for a wide field of vision

Available in:

•Black with Black Skirt

                      Jet Sport Pink $79

                      •Three material construction optimizes flex and comfort

                      •Quick release buckles

                      •Ergonomic foot pocket

                      •Vented blade for an efficient use of power

                      •Also Available in Red, Blue, Yellow, and Graphite

                      •Sizes: XS/4-6, S/6-8, M/8-10, L/9-12, XL/11-13

XP Pro $79

•High performance fin with innovative blade design, power plate and speed vents

•Comfortable foot pocket for use with all style of boots
•Two material blade for efficient energy transfer

Seawing Nova $189

combines classic SCUBAPRO fin technology with the latest innovations in hydrodynamic design and cutting edge materials. This fin has the power, acceleration and maneuverability of a paddle fin with the comfort, efficiency and effortless speed of split fins.

Verve Snorkel: $43

• Made of highest quality polyurethane and silicone compounds.

• Elliptical barrel for less drag when snorkeling.

• Rotating silicone mouthpiece for prolonged comfort.

• Quick-connect mask clip.

New U/W Digital Cameras are in stock. Hurry while supplies last.

2011-03-31T16:34:00.000-05:00

New from Sea and Sea

The DX-2G

High-quality model with 12.1 effective megapixels that continues
the G concept of extensive yet subtle expression range.

From super macro to wide-angle photography.
Features a macro mode for close-up photography, allowing you to get as close as 1cm / 0.4inch to the subject at the wide-angle end or 4cm / 1.6inch at telephoto end. Even with a standard lens, you can achieve an angle of view of 24mm at the wide-angle end.

An evolution in beauty – SEA&SEA mode perfect for underwater photography.
Features SEA&SEA mode, a still image mode for optimal underwater photography. The color balance is automatically set so anyone can easily take pictures of beautiful deep blues. Capture the underwater world as vividly in your pictures as in your memories.

The DX-GE5

A waterproof camera, so no need to worry even if it gets wet.
The DX-GE5 camera is waterproof to 5m / 16ft without it's housing, making it versatile for all outdoor sports activities from water to snow. The DX-GE5 housing is rugged dependable allowing full functionality of the camera to 55m / 180ft.

Compatible with Wide-Angle Conversion Lens.
The optional Wide-Angle Conversion Lens for DX-860G can be attached/removed even underwater.
Use of the wide-angle conversion lens allows images to be taken at an even wider angle.

Light and compact for better portability.
The DX-GE5 housings was redesigned and improved for better ergonomics offering access to all controls and maximum convenience while underwater.

Available in both Pro( Strobe, Wide Angle Lens, and Pelican Case) and Sport Packages.

Add the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Course for $120 to get the most out of your camera system.

Weekend Dive Report

2011-03-12T17:18:00.000-06:00

Hey guys and gals what awesome weekend of diving with Down Under Dive Shop.

Saturday we were joined by Jennifer Idol and her gang for some excellent dives on the USS Oriskany.

The Gulf smoothed out and we were in love with the nearly 50' viz on the tower. Jennifer of Divindesign.com took some amazing photos of our amazing wreck while the Trimix Cave team scootered through the hangar decks.
The Tec Divers reported nearly 100' viz beyond the deck. Little to mild currents and coolest water temp was 64.
Mitch said the Mauve Stingers are back but didn't pose a problem. Thats a great sign, showing the environment is making a comeback.

Sunday the Down Under and crew made way to Dive the Navy Tug and 450' Libertyship Allen.
The 90' Navy Tug was amazing sporting 50+ feet of viz and 64-66 temp with schools of fish everywhere. Did I mention that Jennifer got to hop in and get photos of a pod of Atlantic Bottlenosed Dolphins. Nice!
The Allen had over 40' of viz.
Divers reported huge flounder schools of red snapper and amberjack and Mitch found an awesome morray eel.

Congratulations to Stephen Leach and Jessica Polk on completing your PADI Open Water Certification and to Nanette Cazayoux, Kate Cazayoux, Mitch Oldenberg and Drew on completing their first dive today.

Go Team Down Under.

“Sheepshead Shootout”

2011-03-12T12:52:00.000-06:00

“Sheepshead Shootout”

Annual Sheepshead Only Spearfishing Tournament

Rule and Regulations

1. Only Sheepshead will be weighed and scored / Excluding Flounder Jackpot

2. Fish may be taken from any body of water (obey all local laws)

3. All fish weighed must be taken by spear (No Power heads or Shark Darts)

4. Only one fish per contestant per day will be scored

5. Fish must be weighed at Down Under Dive Shop by a weigh master w/witness.

6. You must be signed up and paid for 24 hours in order to enter a fish

7. All contestants must show proof of AL fishing license and spearfishing license

8. Sign up will open March 31 at 10:00 AM at Down Under Dive Shop

9. Categories will include SCUBA, Free Diving, Novice, and Women’s

Prizes

There will be a First Place, Second Place, and Third Place Prize for each Category.

Award Ceremony (Shootout Cookout)

An award ceremony and cookout will be held at Down Under Dive Shop for all participants on Sat. April 30th The ceremony will be from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Positions and prizes will be awarded and food and beverages will be served.

Tournament t-shirts will be given to every contestant.

Note

The State of Alabama Marine Resource Division requires all spearfishermen to hold both a saltwater fishing license and a spearfishing license. If any contestants choose to fish waters of another state they are responsible for obtaining and obeying those local laws.

Contestants may purchase both of these licenses at the Alabama Marine Resource Division office in Gulf Shores. Alabama resident cost for saltwater fishing license is $29.00 and a spearfishing license for $6.00

Sheepshead Shoot Out Entry Form

(Please Print)

Name:________________________________

Home phone:___________________________

Cell phone: ____________________________

Home address:_________________________

_____________________________________

Member Entry Fee $25.00 yes ____

Non Member Entry Fee $40.00 yes ____

Flounder Jackpot $10.00 yes ____ no ____

Gun type: _____________________________

Do you have a boat? yes ____ no ____

If yes name:____________________________

Certification Level Agency and #____________

What category? SCUBA___ FREEDIVER___WOMEN’S___ NOVICE___

What’s you email address: ________________

I agree to abide by the rules of the spear fishing contest.

Signature: ____________________ Dated:_______

Kayak Rentals and Tours

2011-03-04T12:23:00.000-06:00

Kayaking Gulf Shores, Alabama

Escape the beach crowds and come kayak the Alabama Gulf Coast. Paddle through a maze of marshlands and sandbars to gracefully glide just inches away from breathtaking wildlife. Enjoy a visual feast of yellow, orange and violet hues while the sun melts into the Gulf of Mexico. Kayak the waterways of Little Lagoon to enjoy gulf Shores as you never have before.

Little Lagoon is a 10 miles long and 1/2 mile wide on the north side of the Gulf of Mexico on the Alabama coast. It is separated from the Gulf by a 1/2 mile wide stretch of beach known in Gulf Shores as West Beach. Its brackish water is mix of overflow from the mostly fresh water Lake Shelby and salt water from the Gulf of Mexico that enters through the pass 3 miles west of Gulf Shores Parkway (St. Hwy. 59) under the Lee Callaway Bridge on West Beach Boulevard (St. Hwy. 182).

All of Down Under Dive Shop's Kayaks feature the very stable and beginner friendly sit-on-top design.

Ocean Kayak Rentals

3 hour Ocean Kayak Rental (includes PFD and Deluxe Paddles) $25 Per Kayaker
6 hour Ocean Kayak Rental (includes PFD and Deluxe Paddles) $50 Per Kayak

Guided Kayak Tours

3 hour tour Little Lagoon to Lake Shelby $50 Per Kayaker $10 per Additional Kayaker
Multi Day Delta Tour $150 Per Kayaker (2 ppl Min)

Down Under Dive Shop

Visit us on the web: www.downunderdiveshop.com

Call us at the Dive Center: 251-968-DIVE (3483)

Email us today: info@downunderdiveshop.com

PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience

2011-02-18T16:40:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to breathe underwater. If you want to find out but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into a certification course, Discover Scuba Diving will let you try scuba to see if you like it.

While not an actual scuba certification, during the Discover Scuba Diving experience you’ll learn how to use scuba equipment in shallow water and get a quick and easy introduction to what it takes to explore the underwater world.

The Fun Part

There is nothing like breathing underwater for the very first time. It takes a little getting used to –after all, human beings weren’t designed to do that – but after a few minutes of awestruck wonder, most participants realize how easy scuba diving really is. The biggest challenge instructors have with the Discover Scuba Diving program is not coaxing participants into the water, but coaxing them out when the program is over. The fun part? It’s all fun!

Plus, you can get credit toward PADI Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver certification, putting you a step ahead of the game when you decide to go for it.

What You Learn

You learn the basics you need to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional. One thing you’ll learn is that you really can breathe underwater and whether you like doing that or not. You will:

Learn what wearing scuba equipment feels like and how easy it is to move around underwater while wearing it.

Learn some basic skills and safety rules that will carry over to your full scuba certification course when you take the next step.

The Scuba Gear You Use

All the equipment you will need is included in a Discover Scuba Diving experience. You’ll use all the basic scuba gear including a mask , snorkel and fins, a buoyancy compensating jacket that also carries your scuba tank, a scuba regulator to breathe from and instrumentation to monitor depth and air supply. You might also wear a scuba wetsuit or a weight system depending on where you do your Discover Scuba Diving program.

The Learning Materials You Need

Just your willingness and undivided attention

Prerequisites

To take Discover Scuba Diving, you must be:

Check Out the RSTC Medical Waiver

At least 10 years old

Your Next Adventure

Once you complete a Discover Scuba Diving program, you’ll want to check out:

Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver certification courses.

Please Call for Reservations.

Price: $100

Add Boat Dive on the Dolphin Down Under: $50

New PADI APP

2011-02-16T13:58:00.000-06:00

Download the new, free PADI App for your mobile phone and use the PADI Dive Shop Locator on your Apple iPhone or Android phone.

The 7th Annual Red Neck Rivera Spearfishing Tournament

2011-02-11T13:16:00.000-06:00

Greetings Divers,

The 7th Annual Red Neck Rivera Spearfishing Tournament has been scheduled for May 20 - June 25th.

All the specifics of this tournament and others can be found on the ASA homepage.

http://www.flounderwear.com/asa.html

Forrest Phillips will be heading up the Red Neck Riviera.

His email address can be found at the bottom of the RNR homepage.

Thank you to all the dive shops and divers that help to make our tournaments a success year after year!

Without you and our sponsors it would not be possible.

Kindest Regards,

Mike Wade

Alabama Spearfishing Assn

Mobile, Alabama

Gear Rentals

2011-01-27T17:23:00.000-06:00

REGULATOR $20.00

BCD $20.00

AL 80 CYLINDER $10.00

AL 80 NITROX 32% $20.00

WEIGHT SYSTEM $10.00

FULL WETSUIT $20.00

SHORTY WETSUIT $10.00

MASK & SNORKEL $ 10.00

FINS $10.00

BOOTIES $5.00

SNORKEL VEST $10.00

SNORKELING SET (MASK, FINS, SNORKEL) $20.00

DIVE LIGHT (W/O BATTERIES) $10.00

DIVE FLAG WITH FLOAT AND LINE $10.00

SEALIFE DIGITAL CAMERA w/ Memories CD $50.00

SEA SHUTTLE (MUST RESERVE) $99.00

DIVERS PACKAGE (BCD, REG, WETSUIT, WEIGHT BELT, AL80) $70.00

* RENTALS ARE DAILY

* NO REFUNDS ON UN-USED GEAR

Tec 40 Course (Intro to Tec and Deco Procedures)

2011-01-27T15:28:00.000-06:00

Are you interested in technical diving? You may consider an "intro" to Tec by enrolling in the PADI Tec 40 course. It is the first subdivision of the full PADI Tec Deep Diver course and consists of the first four dives. Because you can do one of these dives in confined water (such as a swimming pool), many divers start the Tec 40 courses in the winter months, ready to continue in open water when spring arrives.

You'll learn to use decompression software and dive computers to plan and make decompression dives with no more than 10 minutes of total decompression and not deeper than 40 metres/130 feet. Use a single cylinder of decompression gas with up to 50 percent oxygen (EANx50) to add conservatism to the required decompression.Since it's part of the course, your PADI Tec 40 course training credits toward the PADI Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses.

Price $500
Sample Schedule
Day 1 Knowledge Development and Traing Dive 1
Day 2 Training Dive 2-3
Day 3 Training Dive 4

For Tec 45 through Trimix Contact our Primary Tec Instructor Jeff Loflin.

Accommodations

2011-01-27T14:44:00.000-06:00

Are you looking for the perfect place to stay during your visit to the Alabama Gulf Coast?

Well here is a list of our recommendations.

For Groups

Sea Oats

Brett Robinson Condos

For Single Rooms

La Quinta

Holiday Inn Express

For Extended Stay
Sea Oats

Staybridge Suites

PADI Sidemount Diver

2011-01-27T14:11:00.000-06:00

Sidemount diving enables a unique way of buoyancy control resulting in a more streamlined profile that reduces drag making finning and moving through the water easier and more efficient. Offers a greater comfort level as sidemount equipment and harness can be custom fit to each individual, accommodating divers of all shapes and sizes. Great for divers with any disabilities, as you carry the cylinder(s) separate from your harness to the water. Whilst within the water you would then attach your cylinders and weights, making the entries and exits to dive sites much easier. Safer option in terms of air management as you have an easier access to your cylinder valve(s), first stage(s) and alternate regulator should a problem arise. One harness and BCD does it all. This statement is now true as the same sidemount equipment you use, can be used for more advanced types of diving i.e wreck, technical and cave diving."

Price: $400 (Includes Sidemount Rental)

Sample Schedule
Day 1 Sidemount Equipment Orientation, Confined Water Dives
Day 2 Openwater Dives 1-3

Lamar on why choose Sidemount

Evolution of Sidemount

Tank Setup

Reg Configuration

Reg Config Mixed Teams

Reg Config Mission Specific

Light Setup

Stage Bottle Setup

The Hollis SMS 100 Harness

Sidemount Skills Demo

Enriched Air Nitrox Diver

2011-01-26T16:34:00.000-06:00

Start your online course today.
Welcome to one of PADI’s most popular specialties – the PAD Enriched Air Diver course. Diving with enriched air nitrox lets you safely extend your no stop time beyond the no decompression limits for air. Diving with enriched air means more time underwater – but you need to be certified as an Enriched Air Diver to get enriched air fills.Whether you’re into underwater photography or wreck diving, on vacation in some tropical paradise or just out for a leisurely day of diving at your local dive site, the PADI Enriched Air Diver course helps you get more out of diving by giving you more time underwater.

Sample Schedule:

Day 1 Knowledge Development/EANx Planning/Gas Analysis Procedures

Day 2 Optional Openwater Dives 1 and 2

PADI Wreck Diver Course

2011-01-26T15:53:00.000-06:00

Whether sunk on purpose as an artificial reef or the result of mishap, wrecks open fascinating windows to the past. Most divers find wrecked ships, airplanes and even automobiles nearly irresistible because they’re intriguing to explore, exciting avenues of discovery, and usually teeming with aquatic life. The PADI Wreck Diver course teaches you the ins and outs of rewarding, responsible wreck diving.

The fun part of the PADI Wreck Diver course is visiting wrecks, unlocking mysteries and starting to gain the knowledge and experience that allows you to see things that others overlook. Sometimes, only the trained, experienced eye recognizes that a small hole or open door likely caused the vessel’s demise.

You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course.

What You Learn

•Techniques for diving exploring shipwrecks, and how to avoid common hazards

•How to research and learn the background of your favorite wrecks

•Wreck scuba diving equipment considerations

•Considerations and techniques for entering intact wrecks

•Experience in planning, organizing and making at least four wreck dives under the supervision of your PADI Instructor

Sample Schedule

Day 1 Orientation and Deep Diving Equipment, Wreck Dive 1-2

Day 2 Wreck Dive 3-4 (optional Deep Dive see below)

What You Need

Basic Scuba Equipment

Dive Computer

Primary Light

Backup Lights

Cutting Tools
Safety Reel

Lift Bag or Surface Marker
Price: $400

Course includes Crew-Pak/DVD and two days of diving.

Many shipwrecks are often found in deeper water. That’s why the PADI Wreck Diver course is a natural companion to the PADI Deep Diver course. You can take these two specialties concurrently. $750 for both.

PADI Deep Diver

2011-01-26T14:37:00.000-06:00

The PADI Deep Diver CourseAfter your first few scuba dives, you soon want to explore a bit deeper. There’s something exciting and mysterious about the depth that attracts divers.
The fun part about this course is the opportunity to explore the deep. It’s exhilarating.

You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Deep Diver course!

What You Learn
Techniques for diving in the deeper range of 18-40 metres/ 60-130 feet

Experience in planning, organizing and making at least four deep dives under the supervision of your PADI Instructor.

Sample Schedule
Day 1 Orientation and Deep Diving Equipment, Deep Dive 1-2
Day 2 Deep Dive 3-4 (optional Wreck Dive see below)

What You Need
Basic Scuba Equipment
Dive Computer
Safety Reel
Lift Bag or Surface Marker

Price: $400
Course includes Crew-Pak/DVD and two days of diving.

Your Next Adventure

Many shipwrecks are often found in deeper water. That’s why the PADI Deep Diver course is a natural companion to the PADI Wreck Diver course.

You can take these two specialties concurrently. $750

Public Safety Diver

2011-01-22T18:58:00.000-06:00

PADI Americas, in conjunction with PADI Members active and experienced in the public safety diving field, are putting the finishing touches on a new Public Safety Diving Specialty program.

The program uses proven field techniques and both meets and addresses important National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines found in NFPA 1006 and 1670.

The PADI Public Safety Diver program is for desgned by and for individuals employed in fields such as law enforcement, fire suppression and emergency services.

Price: $495 as a stand alone course. $899 (Includes Open Water Diver, Adventure Diver, Rescue Diver, Full Face Mask Diver, Drysuit Diver and PSD)

CPR/First Aid/AED Emergency First Response

2011-01-22T18:37:00.000-06:00

Why Emergency First Response?

Emergency First Response (EFR) is the fastest-growing international CPR, Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and First Aid training organization. Dedicated to training the lay rescuer, EFR courses encompasses adult, child and infant CPR skills, provides AED and First Aid training, and feature an outstanding First Aid at Work component. The company’s award-winning programs and state-of-the-art training materials make it a favorite among divers around the world.

Many divers take the Emergency First Response courses to meet program prerequisites, such as PADI Rescue Diver, or as preparation for becoming a PADI Divemaster. However, most have also found the EFR program to be important in every day life. They have taken a significant step in emergency preparedness, and feel confident that they can provide care should an emergency situation arise.

The Emergency First Response program meets requirements for CPR and First Aid in the workplace (OSHA Guideline 29 CFR 1910.151), and incorporates the latest procedures for emergency patient care. Other organizations that recognize EFR as meeting their requirements are United States Coast Guard, The Boy Scouts of America, and the American Council on Exercise (ACE), to name a few.

The course incorporates independent study to prepare you for a classroom and hands-on skill development session with your instructor. You will learn the same patient care techniques used by medical professionals, but at a lay person level.

Depending on the amount of independent study and the class size, the Primary Care and Secondary Care courses may be completed in as little as four hours to six hours

Price: Date: Last Saturday of each Month 9:00 AM

Price: CPR $50, Medic First Aid $50, AED $50, O2 Provider $100, Child & Infant $50

Down Under Dive Charters

2011-01-20T16:24:00.000-06:00

The new “DOWN UNDER” is a 46’ Newton Dive Special. This custom dive boat has every amenity a diver needs, and then some. Powered by twin 375 hp turbo diesel engines, speed is not a problem. This dive boat can truly make your diving more enjoyable, with two large dive ladders, plenty of gear stowage, upper deck seating, fresh water showers, waterline platform, two camera tables, roomy dive deck, and 72 tank racks.

This exclusive dive charter vessel coupled with its courteous and professional crew brings exploring the Alabama Gulf Coast to a new level. You absolutely need to experience the joy of diving on the new “DOWN UNDER”. Call (251) 968-DIVE now for reservations on one of Down Under Dive Shop’s daily dive charters.

As the only local dive center that operates our own charter boats we have the ability to run every day to a variety of sites, so we feel it is better for our charter bookings to be over the phone (251) 968-DIVE.

The Alabama Gulf Coast is known for its amazing wreck diving featuring the USS Oriskany Air Craft Carrier, 450' long Liberty Ship Allen, The Three Tier Navy Tug, Southwind Barge, The Wallace, The 151, and many more.
Water Temps are 75 to 85 degrees from April to November (3mm suit) and 60 to 70 degrees from December to March(5mm suit).

The Crew recommends the off-shore dive trip because of the good visibility and wide selection of excellent dive sites. The in-shore sites are nice as well offering shallower depths and smaller sites. Bubble watchers, snorklers and riders can go for half price. We schedule off-shore trips in the mornings, leaving the marina @ 8 am and in-shore trips in the afternoons. The dive sites that we visit vary depending on conditions, but we generally dive a wreck followed by an artificial reef on all charters.
Please don't hesitate to call or email if you need more detailed information, and definitely check out our web site for a break down of the charter rates and daily rental equipment pricing as well as an updated list of dive sites.

Also, finding a buddy on the boat is never a problem and guides are available for $50. A Divemaster will conduct the dive operations. If you are a little out of practice, we will be happy to arrange a refresher in advance of your dive trip.

We look forward to diving with you soon. All Divers must supply C-Card and proof of recent dive activity (Via logbook, refresher, recent certification) to the Captain at check in.

Pricing:
SNORKELING TRIP - (two hours) Monday, Wed, and Friday $35.00
IN-SHORE TRIP - (two dives, 10 mile range Depths 30' to 70') $75.00
OFF-SHORE TRIP - (two dives, 20 mile range, Depths 30' to 90') $95.00
ORISKANY TRIP - (two dives. 26 mile range, Depths 80' to 130') $165.00

For a list of our local Reefs and Wrecks click here.

For the latest weather forecast click here.

For current seas condition click here.

For image gallery click here.

Down Under Dive Shop's 2011 Travel Schedule

2011-01-08T11:26:00.000-06:00

Where’s Your Next Scuba Diving Trip?
Every month we will feature a new destination to help you learn about the world’s best places to scuba dive.

Whether you’re dreaming of pristine coral reefs, mysterious wrecks or the best critters for underwater photography, you’ll find the perfect dive trip to quench your desires.

Need help narrowing your options? Check with our travel agents to see what upcoming travel packages are planned or browse the archives of great scuba diving destinations for more information.

BOOK YOUR DIVE VACATION TODAY!!

February 17-19 Crystal River Manatee Trip

February 19-24 Key Largo

March 18-25 Palau Live Aboard

April Mexico

June Grand Cayman

September Bahamas (Sail and Dive)

March 2013 Indonesia

Down Under Dive Shop
Visit us on the web: www.downunderdiveshop.com
Call us at the Dive Center: 251-968-DIVE (3483)
Email us today: info@downunderdiveshop.com

Crystal River Manatee Trip Feb. 17-19

2011-01-08T10:45:00.000-06:00

Start the morning snorkeling with the curious and playful manatees in the 72 degree Crystal River Florida springs.
These wonderful, gentle mammals come up to the surface for a great photo opportunity. After enjoying the incredible experience with the manatee, snorkel the main spring called kingspring.
To top off your manatee tour scuba divers can enjoy the optional scuba dive into 30 ft. of open water to the entrance of the cavern. An abundance of fish hang outside the entrance of the Kingspring cavern.
Great viz and shallow depths make this an adventure that is fun for the entire family.

Vacation Package Includes:
Friday and Saturday Night Hotel Stay
Saturday morning orientation, boat trip, and guided snorkel tour.
Saturday afternoon Rainbow River drift dive or snorkel trip.
Sunday morning boat trip, and guided snorkel or dive tour.
50% off on Rentals.

Prices Per Person:
Single Occupancy $299 pp
Double Occupancy $249 pp
Triple Occupancy $199 pp
Quad Occupancy $149 pp
Extra Nights $120 + Tax

PADI Go Pro Night featuring PADI's Regional Manager, Jon Coon.

2011-01-07T15:56:00.000-06:00

Have you ever imagined yourself as a PADI Master Diver, Dive Master, or even an Instructor? How great would it be to share your passion for diving with others? All while getting PAID to do what you love most!

We cordially invite you to join us for a very special PADI GO PRO Night!
Everyday PADI Pros are living the dream with the help of local dive shops like Down Under Dive Shop and even getting sand between their toes in exotic destinations. Can you picture yourself as a Dive Professional? Let us show you how make that dream a reality.

It’s possible for you to step up and claim your place as a PADI PRO. On Wed. Feb. 2nd 6:30 PM Jon Coon (PADI’s South East Regional Manager and Author of the Dive Adventure Novels Thief of the Deep and Blackwolf) along with Mitchell Craft (IDC Staff Instructor and Owner of Down Under Dive Shop), Bryan Eslava (PADI Course Director) and other special guests will share their experiences and wisdom with you. This is a great opportunity to hear from top dive industry professionals on what it takes and why PADI is the way the world learns to dive.

Our PADI GO PRO Night will be a fun filled evening that will include:

• PADI’s Jon Coon
• Question and Answer with local PADI Pros
• Pizza and Refreshments (Free Beer)
• Career Path Counseling Sessions
***One Night Only Discounts on Gear, Training, and Dive Trips***

Make sure to Save the Date and join us for PADI GO PRO NIGHT!
It could very well change your life as it has enhanced all of ours.

When: Friday Oct 21 st 6:30 PM
Where: Down Under Dive Shop
Please RSVP via Facebook or (251) 968-DIVE (3483) or info@downunderdiveshop.com

Top Ten Things to do at Down Under Dive Shop this Year

2011-01-04T13:16:00.000-06:00

1. Pick a Wreck any Wreck

With over 50 wrecks ranging from WWII Liberty Ships, Naval Tugs, to even an aircraft carrier, all diveable from our Alabama Gulf Coast it’s a good idea to check out our two day PADI Wreck Diver Course and let one of our professional wreck divers take you on a guided tour on any four of these pieces of history.

2. Get know a Manatee

Join our National Geographic Instructors and Photographers this February for a family fun trip to snorkel or dive with Florida’s wild Manatees.

3. Go Spelunking

Did you know that this area is home to one of the largest Underwater Cave Systems in the world? Join one of Down Under Dive Shop’s National Speological Society Cave Diving Section Trained Cavern Instructors take you on an “In-depth” tour of one of our amazing Caverns in an Intro to Cave or Cavern Diver Course

4. Dive The USS Oriskany

Oriskany was the first United States warship slated to become an artificial reef, under authority granted by the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 108-136). Oriskany was towed to Pensacola in December 2004 and was originally scheduled to be sunk with controlled charges 24 mi (39 km) south of Pensacola by June 2005.

5. Have an affair with a model

Get up close and personal with your favorite model a Damselfish or a friendly Spadefish and improve your Underwater Photography with one of our Photopros. No camera? No problem try out one of the Sea and Sea cameras in the Rental Program.

6. Take a Kayak TourJoin Lance our local Kayak guide on a fun filled marsh tour of the Alabama Gulf Coast back bays and river deltas. Keep your eyes peeled for american aligators, tarpon, and blue herons.

7. Go Exotic

Looking for something a little more exotic? Join our seasoned travel experts on one of the upcomming luxury travel vacations for garunteed fun and value. Locations include Fiji, Golapagos, Saba, La Paz, the “real” Mexico, Belize, New Zeland and more.

8. Meet someone new

Join the Down Under Dive Club. With over 200 members it’s a great way to meet other local divers and take part in exclusive events, such as club only dive trips and meetings during the summer months.

9. Give your back the day off

Diving in sidemount configuration is the process of taking one or two cylinders and placing them on either side of your body, rather than mounting them on your back, (traditionally known as backmounted). But Sidemount diving is much more than just a change in equipment. In fact, with the right training, you will find it to be a vastly more rewarding and enlightening experience.

10. Become a mentor
Remember what it was like to be the newbie? Nothing helped me more through the years than the patience and helpful pointers of some great Divemasters and Instructors. Why not join their ranks and Go Pro? Down Under is always looking for new team members we can change you life today.

Call us to day to start checking things off your list.
251-968-DIVE

2010-12-16T17:25:00.000-06:00

Tech Repair Submission Form
Copy, paste and print this form to tell us what services your equipment will need.

1. Contact information:

Name:___________________________

Phone:___________________________

Email:___________________________

The address to ship your equipment back to (NO PO Boxes, please - we ship UPS):

Address:______________________________________________________________

City:______________________________________State:_____________Zip:______

2. Fully describe the equipment you want serviced: (Manufacturer/Model/SN)

First and Second Stage:__________________________________________________

Alternate Air Source:____________________________________________________

Console or Computer:____________________________________________________

BCD:______________________________Other:______________________________

3. Services: (Check All that Apply)
· Fist Stage Service $25
· Second Stage Service $25
· Alternate Air Source $20
· BCD Inflator Service $20
· BCD Valve Service $20
· Computer Battery Service $20
· Spg. Air Spool $10
· Hose Replacement $28-$50
*(Above prices do not include part kits)

4. How long do we have to service your equipment?
(Our normal turn-around time is 14 days in-house, unless parts are back-ordered.)
Rush Service: (within 48hrs +$20 per System)

Card Type:_______Card #_______________________________Exp.Date_____/___ Cvv Code___

Signature_______________________________

We will call with a quote before any work is or billing is completed.

Parts Replacement Warranties -
do you have one or don't you?
There are a couple dozen dive equipment manufacturers. Some offer a lifetime of free annual service parts if you'll commit to having your regulator serviced every year. Some don't, and some have a variation on this theme, like a 2-year-free-parts program, or an "it's-up-to-your-retailer" program.
Our policy is simple: Just provide the proof required by the manufacturer that your gear is indeed under a valid parts replacement warranty, and we won't charge you for those parts.

So we need:
1. Proof that you purchased the regulator new from an authorized dealer. This can be in the form of a plastic warranty card, a service logbook, or a receipt.

2. Proof that you had the gear serviced last year at around this time. This can be in the form of an entry in your service logbook or a receipt from an authorized service center.

Please understand that we truly do not want to charge you for your parts if they are legitimately covered by your warranty program. But we have to provide the evidence required by each manufacturer in order to receive the parts from them without charge. So please try to work with us. The good news is that once we have your current warranty records in your permanent service file, we won't have to duplicate this effort next year.

Down Under Dive Shop Courses

2010-12-15T14:54:00.000-06:00

Start Your Adventure Online Today!

How does Elearning Work?

(Click links for details)
Take the Master Scuba Diver Challenge Today!
1. Open Water Diver
a. Enriched Air Diver
b. Boat Diver
2. Advanced Open Water Diver
a. National Geographic Diver
b. Digital UW Photographer
3. Rescue Diver Course
a. Emergency O2 Provider
b. Search and Recovery Specialist
c. CPR/First Aid/AED

Become the Leader!
1. Divemaster
a. Deep Diver
b. Wreck Diver
c. Trimix, O2, Nitrox, and Pure Air Gas Blender
d. Equipment Specialist
e. EFR (CPR/First Aid/AED) Instructor
d. Resort Ops and Charters Ops Specialist
Go Pro!
1. PADI Instructor
a. Specialty Instructor (Choose five areas of expertise)
b. Enriched Air Nitrox Instructor
c. Emergency O2 Provider Instructor

Go where no man has gone before!

1. DSAT Tec Diver
a. Sidemount Diver/Instructor
b. Tec 40 (Intro to Tec)
c. Tec Diver
d. Trimix Diver
e. Rebreather Diver
2. NSS-CDS Cave Diver
a. Intro to Cavern
b. Cavern Diver
c. Basic Cave Diver
d. Full Cave Diver

The PADI Rescue Diver Course

2010-12-09T16:48:00.000-06:00

Rescue Diver

“Challenging” and “rewarding” best describe Down Under’s PADI Rescue Diver course. Building upon what you’ve already learned, this course expands on what you already know about how to prevent problems, and how to manage them if they occur.

The Fun Part
The fun part about this course is rising to challenges and mastering them. Most divers find this course both demanding and rewarding, and at the end, say it’s the best course they’ve ever taken.
Rescue Diver Online

The PADI Rescue Diver course is the newest addition to the PADI eLearning® family. Rescue Diver Online gets you started right away and let's you learn at your own pace and in your own time. Start Now!

How It Works

Get College Credit
You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Rescue Diver Course.
What You Learn
· Self rescue
· Recognizing and managing stress in other divers
· Emergency management and equipment
· Rescuing panicked divers
· Rescuing unresponsive divers

The Scuba Gear You Use
You use all your basic scuba gear including a dive computer and accessories.
You can find most everything at Down Under Dive Shop's Retail Center.

The Learning Materials You Need
The PADI Rescue Diver crewpak includes all materials required to complete the PADI Rescue Diver course – including a pocket mask. You’ll learn how to think like a rescue diver and preview skills you’ll practice with your PADI Instructor. Once your Rescue Diver course is complete, you can review the DVD to refresh your dive safety skills as needed. This tool box of knowledge and technique will give you the expertise to handle almost any emergency situation.
To purchase this product, contact your local PADI Instructor, dive shop or resort.

Prerequisites
To enroll in the PADI Rescue Diver course, you must
· Be 12 years or older
· Have a PADI Adventure Diver certification (or have a qualifying certification from another organization)
· Be trained and current for first aid and CPR within the previous two years (Ask your instructor about adding Emergency First Response CPR/first aid courses and the Search and Recovery Speciality course for huge Savings).

Your Next Adventure
After completing CPR and first aid and the PADI Rescue Diver course, you should take the PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider course Together, these three courses round out your ability to handle scuba diver emergencies.

Cost: $350 total (including Fee paid for Elearning)
The Complete Rescue Diver: $550 including Fee paid for Elearning,CPR,AED,First Aid, O2 Provider and Search & Recovery)

PADI Advanced Open Water Course

2010-12-05T17:14:00.000-06:00

Exploration, Excitement, Experiences.
They’re what the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about. And no, you don’t have to be “advanced” to take it – it’s designed so you can go straight into it after the PADI Open Water Diver course. The Staff at Down Under Dive Shop will help you increase your confidence and build your scuba skills so you can become more comfortable in the water. This is a great way to get more dives under your belt while continuing to learn under the supervision of your PADI instructor. This course builds on what you’ve learned and develops new capabilities by introducing you to new activities and new ways to have fun scuba diving.

You’ll hone your skills by completing five adventure dives that introduce you to:
Master Bouyancy Control and Hovering
Understanding the Compass and Underwater navigation
Search Patterns and Liftbag Use
Fun and Safe Praftices while Boat Diving
Deeper water diving (typically anywhere from 18-30 metres/ 60-100 feet)
Don't wait Start Now with Elearning.

The Fun Part: Your Choice

One reason you’ll love the Advanced Open Water Diver course is that you and your instructor choose from 15 types of Adventure Dives to complete your course. You can try your hand at digital underwater photography, wreck diving, night diving, diving with underwater scooters, peak performance buoyancy and much more.
Get credit! Each Adventure Dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course may credit toward the first dive of the corresponding PADI Specialty Diver course.

Prerequisites
To take this course, you must be:
A PADI Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
15 years old (12 for Junior Advanced Open Water Diver)

Sample Schedule:
Day 1: Orientation at Down Under, Knowledge Reviews Peak Performance Buoyancy, U/W Navigation, Search and Recovery, Deep Diving, and Boat Diving.
Beach Dives 1, 2, and 3

Day 2: Boat Dives 4 and 5

Start the Advanced Open Water Diver Course Online
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is part of PADI eLearning®. The Advanced Open Water Diver Course Online gets you started right now with the background information you need for the seven of the most popular Adventure Dives (though you and your instructor can still choose any of the Adventure Dives.) Start Now!

How Elearning Works
What You Learn
The knowledge and skills you get in the Advanced Open Water Diver course vary with your interest and the adventures you have, but include
Practical aspects of deep diving
Physiological effects of deeper scuba diving.
More ways to use your underwater compass
How to navigate using kick-cycles, visual landmarks and time
How to better use your dive computer and electronic Recreational Dive PlannerTM (eRDPTM)
And much, much more, depending on the Adventure Dives you choose

Get College Credit
You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course

The Scuba Gear You Use
You use all the basic scuba gear including your underwater compass. Depending on which three adventure dives you pick, you may also try out underwater photography equipment , DPVs (underwater scooters), a dive light a dry suit, lift bags, a dive flag/float or other specialty gear.
Down Under Dive Shop offers student discounts on items purchased for the course.

The Learning Materials You Need
PADI’s Adventures in Diving Manual and DVD provide information on more than 16 types of specialty diving.You’ll use them as a guidebook to improve your diving skills and prepare for new experiences and adventures.
Curious about night diving? Flip to the night diving chapter. Once you’ve previewed the skills, your instructor will guide you on your first night diving adventure. Having trouble with underwater navigation? Review the underwater navigation section then sign up for the Navgation Adventure Dive with your PADI Instructor.
To purchase this product, call, click, or stop by Down Under Dive Shop.

Your Next Adventure
The PADI Rescue Diver Course is your next Core Course, but after you’ve tried a specialty in the Advanced Open Water Diver course, you’ll probably want to take the whole course and learn more:
altitude diving, AWARE-fish identification, boat diving, deep diving, diver propulsion vehicle use, drift diving, dry suit diving, equipment repair speacilist, Compressor Tech, multilevel and computer diving, national geographic diver, night diving, peak performance buoyancy, search and recovery, sidemount diver,Tec 40, Tec 50, Tec Diver, Trimix Diver, underwater nature study, underwater navigation, underwater photography, underwater videography, wreck diving

Price: $350 Includes a Two Tank Off Shore Dive Charter.

Down Under Dive Shop Store

2010-12-04T16:14:00.000-06:00

Regulators:
Staff Choice:
Mk 25/A700 $775

Mid Range:
Mk17/ G250V $613

Best Value:
Mk2/R395 $250

Buoyancy Compensators:
Staff Choice:
Glide Pro $721

Back Inflate:
Seahawk $735

Best Value:
Sport BC $340

Computers:
Staff Choice:
Galileo Sol or Luna $$1300-$1900

Mid Range:
Aladin Tec 2G $359

Best Value:
Prime $250

Wetsuits:
Staff Choice:
Everflex 7.5 mm, 5mm or 3mm $400-$300

Mid Range:
Subgear Definition 5mm or 3mm $350-$250

Best Value:
Profile 3mm $171

Masks:
Staff Choice:
Frameless $129

Mid Range:
Scout $70

Best Value:
Subgear Action or Sprite $60

Fins:
Staff Choice:
Twin Jet Max w Spring Straps $189

Mid Range:
Jet Fins $99

Best Value:
Jet Sport $60

Snorkels:
Staff Choice:
Nexus $52

Mid Range:
Pheonix Flex $39

Best Value:
Eclipse $27

Gloves:
Staff Choice:
Everflex $31

Mid Range:
Riffe $25

Best Value:
Tropic Amara $22

Boots:
Staff Choice:
Delta Deluxe $51

Best Value:
Shorty Boot $42

Hoods:
Staff Choice:
Nova Scotia Semi Dry $40

Mid Range:
Everflex Deluxe Hood $55

Best Value:
.5 mm Profile Hood $35

Dive Knives:
Staff Choice:
Riffe Silencer $70

Mid Range:
Innovative Drop Point $50-$100

Best Value:
White Tip BC Knife $50

Dive Lights:
Staff Choice:
Big Blue Canister Light $799+

Mid Range:
Scubapro Nova/Intova/Big Blue

Best Value:
Scubapro Fuego (50%) Off

Gear Bags:
Staff Choice:
Caravan $208

Mid Range:
Mesh Backpack $55

Best Value:
Mesh Duffle $40

For a personlaized gear quote stop by, click,or call us at Down Under Dive Shop
Just tell us what items, sizes, and colors and our pro team will get you the best price around.
Visit us on the web: www.downunderdiveshop.com
Call us at the Dive Center: 251-968-DIVE (3483)
Email us today: info@downunderdiveshop.com

PADI Open Water Diver Course

2010-12-02T13:17:00.000-06:00

Get Certified!
Take a Scuba Lesson with Down Under Dive Shop Today!

Get your PADI scuba certification. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, discover new adventures or simply see the wondrous world beneath the waves, this is where it starts.

The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world’s most popular scuba course, Down Under has introduced thousands of people to the adventurous diving lifestyle.

Start your scuba certification online.
How Elearning Works

The Fun Part
The fun part about this course is . . . well, just about all of it because learning to dive is incredible. You breathe underwater for the first time (something you’ll never forget) and learn what you need to know to become a certified diver. During the course, you’ll make at least five pool dives and four dives at local dive sites under the supervision of your PADI Instructor.

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:

Knowledge Development (online, home study or in a classroom ) to understand basic principles of scuba diving
Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills
Open Water Dives to review your skills and explore!

Sample Schedule:

Day 1: Orientation, Knowledge Development Review, Pool Dives 1, 2, and 3.

Day 2: Pool Dives 4, 5 and Skin Diving Skills

Day 3: Open Water Dives 1 and 2

Day 4: Open Water Dives 3, 4, and optional Nitrox Dive.

Group courses may take longer.

If you’ve tried diving through a Discover Scuba Diving experience or resort course, the skills you learned may be credited towards a portion of the full PADI Open Water Diver course certification.

Prerequisites
To enroll in the PADI Open Diver course or Junior Open Water Diver course, you must

Be 10 years or older (PADI eLearning requires a minimum age of 13 years due to international Internet laws.

Get College Credit
You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Open Water Diver course!

The Scuba Gear You Use
In the PADI Open Water Diver course, you learn to use basic scuba gear including a dive computer, and standard accessories. The equipment you wear varies somewhat, depending upon whether you’re diving in tropical, temperate or cold water

Down Under Students enjoy a Free Club Membership for three months after the Open Water Course. Expect Special Pricing on gear, rental, dive trips and invites to speacial club only events.

The Learning Materials You Need
PADI offers a variety of home-study materials for the Open Water Diver course. While eLearning is the most convenient option, you may also chose a book and DVD package or a multimedia DVD-ROM.

PADI’s Open Water Diver materials cover what you need to know about basic scuba diving skills, terminology and safety procedures. For each concept you’ll read a description and watch a video demonstration. Then you’ll jump in the local pool in Gulf Shores or Oranage Beach(or pool-like environment) to practice these skills with your instructor. Later, as a certified diver, use the course materials as a reference guide for future diving adventures and to review what you learned.

Note: Enroll in the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online for immediate computer-based access to the manual and video integrated into seamless, guided online learning.

To purchase the Open Water Crew Pack or Elearning Enhancement Pack, call or click Down Under Dive Shop. 251-968-DIVE (3483)

Start Now
You don’t have to wait to get going. With PADI eLearning and the PADI Open Water Diver Course Online, you can start right now. The PADI Open Water Diver Course Online lets you learn the background information you need before each dive at your own pace through friendly, interactive learning.

$450 Four Day Course (Includes Books or Elearning)
$350 Group Course (4 Divers Minimum)

Galapagos Dive Trip April 11-18 2011

2010-11-27T16:37:00.000-06:00

Galapagos Diving

Your underwater adventures in the Galapagos will encompass everything from sharks to nudibranchs, and more. The islands are best known for amazing shark diving around Wolf and Darwin Islands. These small and remote islands are best reached by liveaboard vessels for divers. Your diving experience here will generally include Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and lots of schooling hammerheads being cleaned by king angelfish. Seeing marine turtles, schools of tuna, eagle rays, and sea lions is very common and seeing a whale shark is very possible from June through November. All the islands you travel to are amazing sites for underwater photography.

Macro photographers will have their fill of sea horses, barnacle blennies, coral hawk fish, and many others. An abundance of rays are at many of the dive sites (including spotted rays, marble rays, golden rays and stingrays) along with sea lions, sea turtles, schools of grunts and snappers. The variety of life in these water is unlike any other place, with thick schools of the native brown stripped salema, snappers, groupers, Chevron barracuda and huge sea turtles.

There are also many unique things to view on land. Consider adding on some time to your trip to experience the land animals as well. And of course, a trip to the Galapagos would not be complete without taking time to watch their most famous inhabitants - the giant tortoise!

Make your reservation today for a once in a lifetime experience in the "Enchanted Islands."

Itinerary

Days aboard the M/V Humboldt Explorer generally involve a 6:30 a.m. dive followed by breakfast, a dive at 9:30, lunch at 12:00, and afternoon dives at dive at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. Dinner is served at approximately 7:00 p.m. Under current National Parks guidelines, no night dives are allowed by any vessels within the Galapagos National Park.

Please note that these itineraries are examples only, and will change depending on local regulation, weather and logistics at the Captain’s discretion. Currently, each week the itinerary includes the same islands. The number of dives and the dive sites may vary depending on sea conditions, crossing times and currents. The order of the island visits, however, is dictated by the Galapagos National Park and may vary weekly.

San Cristobal Departures

All departures for 2010 and onwards will be from San Cristobal for 2010.
For those flying to and from the Galapagos on Mondays to join the vessel, a guide will meet you upon exiting the baggage claim area for transfer to the vessel. If the departure island changes, your airlines tickets from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands will automatically be changed (so long as the tickets have been purchased through our partners).

Monday: San Cristobal
Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in theGalapagos islands mid-day. Guests are met at the airport and taken to the vessel.
Boarding the vessel after 12:00 noon, guests will depart for a short crossing to the a calm site for a check out dive and safety briefing. Lunch will be served before the dive and dinner will be served after the check out dive. The vessel will make a late day departure to the next destination.

Tuesday: North Seymour - North Syemour Canal, North Seymour Point
6:30, 9:30, dives. Sightings include turtles, hammerheads, sea lions.
Afternoon/overnight transit to Darwin (20 hours).

Wednesday: Darwin - Darwin's Arch
6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Night at anchor.

Thursday: Darwin - Darwin's Arch
6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Evening crossing to Wolf Island (2.5 hrs).

Friday: Wolf Island - Landslide, Shark Bay, Pinaculo
6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, turtles and silky sharks. Overnight transit to Isabela Island (15 hours).

Saturday: Isabela Island – Cabo Marshall
6:30 and 9:30 dives. Sightings include giant manta rays, mobula rays, turtles, hammerheads, black-striped salema. Overnight transit Cousins Rock (8 hours).

Sunday: Cousin’s Rock
6:30, 8:30 dives – wall and macro diving with excellent chance of seeing sea horses, sea lions, eagle rays. Breakfast and transit back to Santa Cruz (3 hrs). Land trip to see the giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz, traditional Ecuadorian BBQ lunch at a farm in the highlands (cost is $15 per person), and transit to Puerto Ayora for shopping and possible visit to Darwin Center on your own. 7 p.m. return to the boat, dinner and crossing to San Cristobal.

Monday: Baltra/San Cristobal
Breakfast; depart the vessel by 8:30 am . Trip to the interpretive center and time to visit the beach in town to see sea lions and marine iguanas. Transfer back to the airport for flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

$3000 Per Person Double Occ.
Packages Include:

•7 nights/8 days aboard the vessel
•3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks
•Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
•2-4 dives a day (days vary)
•Use of tanks, weights and belts
Packages Do Not Include:
•Airport transfers (except same-day Galapagos arrivals)
•Hotel accommodations
•Flights to/from Galapagos
•Last evening meal
•Rental, instruction, nitrox and retail charges
•Crew gratuities
•Trip cancellation insurance
•Departure taxes - up to US$41 pp
•Premium alcoholic beverages
•National Marine Park fees - $100 pp, cash only. Paid on arrival in Galapagos.
•TCT Tourist card - ($10 pp, cash only) Paid at Ecuador airport of departure for Galapagos. Cash only.
•Hyperbaric chamber fee ($35 pp)
•Temporary fuel surcharge - if applicable

Become a SCUBA Instructor Today

2010-11-27T13:35:00.000-06:00

PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)
Are you looking for something extraordinary?

To do something others can only dream of? To help people transform their lives? To open doors you didn’t even know existed?

All of this, and more, awaits you as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.

The Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program is one of two distinct components of PADI’s Instructor Development Course (IDC)—the core of PADI Instructor training.

The first portion is the Assistant Instructor course followed by the Open Water Scuba Instructor program.
The IDC program is a minimum of five days (not including online independant learning) It introduces you to the entire PADI System of diver education and concentrates on further developing your abilities as a professional dive educator.

The Fun Part
It’s about life transformations—both yours and those around you.
The fun part of instructor training is interacting with course participants while creating friendships that continue long after the course concludes.
You’ll begin networking with other professionals and begin to explore PADI Pro Diving Jobs worldwide. You’ll also have the opportunity to continue your professional education by participating in specialty instructor courses, which train you to teach specialties after instructor certification.

Get College Credit
You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor course.

The Challenging Part
The challenging part of this course is your personal commitment to the training. The course requires you to complete all the self-study Knowledge Reviews before the course begins and to prepare daily assignments for teaching presentations daily. Organization and dedication are key.

What You Learn

During the course you’ll learn how to apply the PADI System of Education.

Sample Schedule

Day One
Course Orientation
General Standards and Procedures
How to Teach the Open Water Diver Course
Teaching in Confined Water
Skill Demo Workshop (and 800 m/yd swim)

Day Two

Confined Water Teaching Presentation 1
Developing Knowledge Development Presentations
How to Teach the Advanced Open Water Course
Conducting Open Water Dives
Risk Management

Day Three
Open Water Teaching Presentation 1
How to Teach Discover Scuba Diving (Inro to Scuba)
Advanced Open Water Workshop
Knowledge Development Teaching Presentation 1
4 Es Counseling Workshop 1
How to Teach the Rescue Diver Course

Day Four
Open Water Teaching Presentation 2
Rescue Exercise Workshop
Confined Water Teaching Presentation 3
Knowledge Development Teaching Presentation 2

Day Five
Knowledge Development Teaching Presentation 3
4 Es Counseling Workshop 2
How to Teach the Divemaster Course
Confined Water Teaching Presentation 4

Day Six
Make Up
Specialty Instructor Courses: Enriched Air Instructor, Emergency O2 Provider Instructor, Optional)

Day Seven
Make Up
Specialty Instructor Courses: Enriched Air Instructor, Emergency O2 Provider Instructor, (Optional)

2011 IDC Schedule

March 4th -11th
IE March 26/27

May 13th -20th
IE May 21/22

August 19th -26th
IE August 27/28

November 25th -Dec.2nd
IE December 03/04

Start Today with Elearning

How Does Elearning Work?

Cost: $1699 (Includes Elearning Fee) + IDC Crew Pak $499 Normally $738

Specialty Instructor Courses: $175-$250

Contact our Course Director Bryan Eslava for details at padi190853@gmail.com.

Black Friday Sale!!! One Day Only!!! Friday 10:00 to 1:00pm

2010-11-24T13:57:00.000-06:00

Down Under Dive Shop's 2010 season has come to an end, and it's time to move out our 2010 inventory and get ready for next year.
Down Under Dive shop will be hosting the largest "one day" clearence sale in our history on Black Friday, November 26th 10:00 am to 1:00pm.
Come in or call for 25% off of all products (excluding Courses, Weights, and T-Shirts)
and 50% or more savings on the following items.

All Waterproof Drysuits Starting at $899 ($1999 Regular)

ALL Masks!!!
Starting at $30

Select 3mm Wetsuits!!!

Prices Range from $40 Shorties $88 for 3mm Full Suits.

All Gear Bags 50% Off!!!

Red Twin Jet Max Fins $99!!!

Pelaj Spearguns $150!

Free Dive T-Shirt with Purchase of $100 Gift Certificate!!!

This week at Down Under Dive Shop 11/11

2010-11-11T15:07:00.001-06:00

Happy Veterans Day!

Dive Boat Schedule:
Sat: 6hr 2 Tank Charter:
Sun: 6hr 2 Tank Charter

Class Schedule:
Open Water Diver/Scuba Review Nov.15
Enriched Air Nitrox: Nov. 12
Advanced Openwater Diver: Nov. 13
Deep/Wreck: Nov 14
CPR/First Aid/AED/O2 Provider Nov 17 and Nov 27

Instructor Development Course Nov. 22

Trips:
Manatee Trip Feb 12th

Fiji March 19th (sign up today only one spot left)

Palau March 18th 2012

Congratulations to Kevin Johnson on the PADI Open Water Diver Course.

Meet The Staff:
Specialty Instructor: Jim Mahan Jr.

Jim is Public Safety Search and Recovery Diver and has over 30 Years of Diving Experience.

Manager Course Director: Bryan Eslava

Bryan is our resident Course Director (Instructor Trainer), Side Mount Instructor, Full Face Mask Instructor, Tec Trimix and Full Cave Diver.
Bryan also teaches a host of Specialty Instructor Ratings ranging from CPR Instructor to Equipment Repair Technician.
Bryan is also an adventure travel guide and takes groups on diving vacations around the world including Belize, Curacao, and the Pacific.

DIVE PALAU March 18-25 2012

2010-11-07T11:23:00.000-06:00

Check out the Video

Prepare to ‘Dive Easy’ on Tropic Dancer where you’ll enjoy all of the amenities you’ve come to expect from a Dancer Fleet yacht®. Once you’re settled in on this comfortable yacht and ensconced in Dancer Fleet surroundings, you’ll be ready to focus on the huge variety the underwater world of Palau has to offer. At Blue Corner you’ll be greeted by gray reef and white tip sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, spotted eagle rays, schooling jacks and barracuda, trigger fish and more. Look for manta rays, octopi, nudibranchs, garden eels and maybe even a leopard shark when diving in German Channel. Peleliu Corner, where the ocean currents converge to make up some of the strongest currents you’ll ever experience, is home to large numbers of tropical fish and a variety of corals including soft, cable and black. Sea fans decorate the wall while large pelagic fish cruise around Peleliu Corner.

Here is a sample of some of the dive sights:

Remnants of WWII are still visible throughout Palau today, including many ship and plane wrecks resting at the bottom of Palau’s inner lagoon. Japanese Zero, one of the most famous, lies in only five feet of water just waiting to be explored. While in Peleliu, if weather permits, you’ll be treated to an island tour where you’ll visit the Peleliu War Museum, explore the battlefields of Orange Beach and Bloody Nose Ridge and get a sampling of life in Palau today.

Photo Gallery:

$3230 PP ($1600 Deposit)
Additional charges: Nitrox is $150.00 per person for the entire seven day charter. For those guests that do not want to purchase nitrox for the entire charter, they can pay $10.00 per nitrox fill during the charter and pay for these at the end of the charter. Guests that are repeaters from the Fiji Island Dancer II trip will get FREE nitrox for the entire charter. There will also be other charges as follows: cabin tax is $35.00 per person, marine park fees are $60.00 per person and a new Green Tax is $15.00 per person.

Trip Brochure:

Contact Bryan Eslava for details at padi190853@gmail.com

PADI Course Director
www.downunderdiveshop.com
Wk. 251-968-DIVE (3483)
Cell. 251-979-8459

This week at Down Under Dive Shop

2010-11-03T15:52:00.000-05:00

This week at Down Under Dive Shop

What’s up, Divers?
Let’s start off with last weekend’s dive Report.
Saturday everyone had an awesome time with 40-50’’+ of Viz on Atlantis Bridge Rubble.
We then made our way over to Southwind Barge for lots of bottom time and flounder everywhere.

Cheynne Milan, Bryan Eslava, Terry Miller, Scott Williams, Sonia Webb, Pete Holmes and Hugh and Gail Headrick enjoyed an amazing week of diving in the Florida Keys.
We started off our Trip with some awesome reef diving on French and Molasses Reef.
Mid week we made 5 dives on the Wench Hole and a Night Dive on Snapper Ledge.
We ended our trip with 130’+ viz and zero current on the Duane.
Call Bryan to sign up for the February trip to see what you missed.

Class Schedule:
Open Water Diver/Scuba Review Nov.15
Enriched Air Nitrox: Nov. 12 $175
Advanced Openwater Diver: Nov. 13
Deep/Wreck: Nov 14
CPR/First Aid/AED/O2 Provider Nov 17 and Nov 27
Divemaster Nov. 06
Instructor Nov. 22

Dive Boat Schedule:
Sat: 6hr 2 Tank Charter:
Sun: 6hr 2 Tank Charter

Trips:
Manatee Trip Feb 12th

Fiji March 19th (sign up today only one spot left)

Congratulations to Scott Williams on obtaining the PADI Master Diver Rating!!!

Meet The Staff:

Instructor: Marcie May

Marcie a Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Full Cave Diver, Cavern Instructor, boat captain and best of all a massage theropist. She loves spearfishing and training divers. During the summer this is pretty much all she does. During the winter she and her husband, Steve, enjoy dive travel to exotic locations such as Belize and Honduras.

Owner/Instructor:
Mitchell Craft

Mitch is a PADI IDC Staff Instructor, Side Mount Instructor, Full Face Mask Instructor, Tec Trimix and Full Cave Diver.
Mitch has been diving since the age of 12 and his adventures have taken him diving in some of the most adventurous places in the world.

This week at Down Under Dive Shop

2010-10-14T15:42:00.000-05:00

Howdy gang,
Well let’s start off with last weekend’s dive Report.
Saturday everyone was blown away by the 80’+ of Viz on our old favorite the Navy Tug.
We then made our way over to the USS Allen (455’ Liberty Ship) where divers were schooled by huge Amberjacks.

Sunday we explored the wreckage of the Three Coal Barges.
Divers used their lights to search for octopus hiding in the wrecks while the Search and Recovery Specialty Course Students Practice locating and lifting objects.

Weekend Class Schedule:
Thursday: Digital Underwater Photography Course $175 DUP Instructor $250
Friday: Scuba Review and Beach Diving $50 Nitrox Diver $175 and Intro to Tec Diving
Saturday: Deep and Wreck Specialty Part 1 $250
Sunday: Deep and Wreck Specialty Part 2 $250

Dive Boat Schedule:
Sat: 6hr 2 Tank Charter: Notch Barge (102’) & Navy Tug (82’)
Sun: 8hr 2 Tank Oriskany: (85’-130’)

Trips:
Key Largo October 24th (Only 4 Spots Left!!!)

Manatee Trip Feb 12th

Fiji March 19th

Go Pro
Dive Master Nov 6

SCUBA Instructor Nov 22

Congratulations to Aaron Plante and Mike Olson on obtaining your Open Water Certifications.
How about a round of applause for our new Advanced Open Water Diver and Search and Recovery Divers and Rescue Divers: Sonia Webb, Scott Williams, and Brandon Williams, and Vincent Scardina.

Meet The Staff:

Instructor: Cpt. Hugh Headrick
Hugh has been diving for over 15 years and spent some of that time running a dive opp in the BVI.
Hugh currently holds the PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer Rating and is working on his PADI Staff Instructor.

Dive Master Candidate: Lance Stricklin (Not to be Confused with Lance Eslava)
Lance, son of a PADI Instructor is a Commercial Diver and Combat Diver and Water Survival Instructor with the US Marine Corps, is currently working on becoming a PADI Dive Master.

Weekend Dive Report

2010-09-26T17:14:00.000-05:00

Hey guys and gals what awesome weekend of diving with Down Under Dive Shop.

Saturday we were joined by True Blue Watersports for some excellent dives.
Dive one on the Navy Tug the divers rocked out in 85 degree water with 50’ of viz!
Amberjacks, cudas, and Snapper were abundant.
Dive two we enjoyed 70’ of viz on the bridge rubble and some pretty big grouper.

Sunday we made way to the USS Oriskany.
After a little adventure with some high winds, the Gulf smoothed out and we were in love with the nearly 100’ viz and mild currents.
You should have seen the gnarly sandbar shark that stayed with us on both dives.

Congratulations to Donald Breece, William Trapnell, Scott Williams, Vince Scardina, Austin Luke and Tyler Richardson on completing their Open Water and Advanced Open Water Certifications.

Hey, lets give a big round of applause to Down Under Dive Shop’s newest PADI Instructors, Wesley Rose and Jim Mahan Jr. That’s thanks to lots of hard work and dedication.
Go Team Down Under.

If you would like to join their ranks stop by and talk to Bryan Eslava, our resident Course Director to start your new career.

Become a PADI Dive Master or SCUBA Instructor.

Dive Master starts in October and Instructor Development in November.

Don’t to sign up for the Florida Keys Trip

This Weekend in Diving with Down Under Dive Shop

2010-09-22T11:45:00.000-05:00

Courses:

EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER CPR/First Aid/O2 Provider Sat 8:00 am

EFR INSTRUCTOR Sat 8:00 am

RESCUE DIVER COURSE Sat 12:00 pm

SEARCH & RECOVERY DIVER Sun 9:00 am

FULL FACE MASK ORIENTATION Sun 12:00 pm

Dive Trips:
Saturday: Two Tank Charter Navy Tug and Atlantis

Sunday: Two Tank Charter to the USS Oriskany

Our exclusive dive charter vessel coupled with its courteous and professional crew bring exploring the Alabama Gulf Coast to a new level. You absolutely need to experience the joy of diving on the “DOWN UNDER”. Call now for reservations on one of Down Under Dive Shop’s daily dive charters.

Don’t to sign up for the Florida Keys Trip

GO PRO!!!

Become a PADI Dive Master or SCUBA Instructor.

Dive Master starts in October and Instructor Development in November.

Keys Trip Feb. 19-24

2010-09-17T11:06:00.000-05:00

When it comes to diving and snorkeling, the Florida Keys unlock an underwater paradise. Here, you'll find the longest living reef in the western hemisphere; more than 500 wrecks to explore; the world's first underwater hotel, more dive shops per square mile than anywhere else in the world; and crystal clear waters with visibility up to 120 feet -- it's no wonder that divers from all over the world come to the Florida Keys.

4 Days of Two Tank Diving with a PADI 5 Star IDC and 46’ Newton Boats.
(Dives include Christ of the Abyss, the Speigel Grove and The Washington and the Duane.)
Tanks and weights are included. Nitrox upgrade available $8 per tank/per dive.
All Wreck Divers will be required to Purchase a $10 Medallion and supply dive Computers.

Accommodations Conveniently located next to the Dive Boat.

Pricing:
$800 per person Double Occ.
$700 per person Triple Occ.
$600 per person Quad. Occ
Non Divers Less $400
Snorklers: $40 per trip.

New Masks in Stock and Dive Trips

2010-09-16T10:53:00.000-05:00

CRYSTAL VU PLUS MASK WITH PURGE
NEW FOR 2010
•No tint glass for extra clarity
•EZ Equalize nose pocket
•Patented single-lens design with seamless side window for a panoramic field of vision
•Patented purge valve for easy clearing
•Crystal-clear, double-sealed silicone skirt for superior fit and comfort.
•New even Lower-volume styling for a snug fit
•Overmolded frame design
•Skirt has a patented purge.
•Tempered glass lens.
•Available in 4 colors- Black/Gray, Blue/Gray, Yellow/Gray, and Red/Gray

SPECTRA MASK
Our sporty low volume Spectra mask for easy clearing and comfortable fit.

•Dual-Lens, Low volume for clearing convenience, yet designed for maximum visibility
•Universal, super comfortable fit for a variety of face shapes
•Bold colors, including duotones
•Swivel buckles for easy adjustment
•Tempered glass for safety and durability
The most important consideration in mask selection is fit. No two faces are alike, and the SCUBAPRO broad range takes individual differences into account.

The basic difference in masks lies in the number of lenses. Single-lens masks were the first developed and remain a popular choice worldwide because they provide a broad, uninterrupted view.

With the advent of silicone skirts, twin-lens masks have become increasingly popular because they typically lower internal volume, making clearing easier.

This weekend’s (9/17/10) Dive Schedule:
Friday: Scuba Review/Pool Sessions
Saturday: Boat Trip Shallow Dives 3 Bardges and 3 Mile or Beach Dives
Sunday: Boat Trip Deep Dives Navy Tug and Atlantis or Vortex Springs

Nitrox Course: Friday 9/17 5:30pm to 8:00pm $175

Advanced Open Water Diver Saturday 9/18 10:00 am $350

Diving with Giant Manta Rays and Red Snapper Season Opens again.

2010-09-09T14:19:00.000-05:00

What an amazing weekend of diving!
On Saturday the divers from Scuba Unlimited in Ohio teamed up with Down Under Dive Shop for an Oriskany double dip.
Divers punched through the “soup” which opened up to glorious viz at the top of the tower. They were surprised to be greeted by two majestic Giant White Mantas. The Manta Rays loved interacting with the divers so much that they hung around on all four dives over both days! Who saw that yellow blur go zooming by? That was PADI DPV Pilot, Pete riding the TUSA Rental SAV-7 Scooter.
Monday it was off to the Navy Tug and Atlantis Bridge Columns.
Once again divers were pleased to find the wreck in 85-degree water and 60’ to 70’ of viz. The marine life was abundant. What was that about the curious shark?

Red Snapper Season to Reopen.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted to pass an emergency rule to establish a fall red snapper season in gulf waters that will allow anglers to fish each weekend (12:01 a.m. Friday to 12:01 a.m. Monday) from October 1 to November 22.
The director of NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office, Roy Crabtree, said the approval of the fall snapper season should come by September 15. Crabtree also advised that the daily bag limit of two red snapper with a minimum total length of 16 inches will remain in effect for the fall season.

Upcomming Classes:
CPR/First Aid/AED Wed. Sep 15 5:00 pm or Sep 25 8:00 am

Nitrox Diver Fri. Sep 17 or 24 5:30 pm

Advanced Open Water Diver Sat/Sun Sep 18-19 10:00 am

Rescue Diver: Sat/Sun Sep. 25 26 10:00 am

Divemaster October 2-23 Weekends

Instructor November 19-27 9:00 am

Open Water Diver Sep 20