11/10/2013

Dive Newsletter

Hello Divers!

Things have started to slow down a little here at The SCUBA School. Not as many students are currently enrolled in Open Water training but we are still offering lots of dive travel right now. SSDS has taken 46 group trips so far in 2013 and we should have well over 50 before the year is over.

While spearfishing early this year, Forrest, was lucky enough to shoot a very large Amberjack. We sent a photo out in the spring and there are several pics of it on our FB page. Our friend, Archie Phillips, who is a world famous Taxidermist and long time TV Personality made us a mount of this huge fish. Come by and check it out!

Trips
November 15-17 Panama City, FL Wreck Diving
Spencer will be leading this group on some of the inshore wrecks of Panama City. There are plenty of them and this is the next step for new divers to take in their training. Good divers are always learning and this is a good one to do it on. Also, Junior Divers can participate too since the dives are relatively shallow. Like all of our trips, SSDS, has privately reserved this vessel.

November 15-17, 22-24 and 29-Dec 1 Panama City, FL Flounder trips
If you have seen the pictures in years past where our groups will have one to two hundred Flounders in a day, it is during this time of year. It is hard to beat the table fare of a fresh Flounder and the water is not too cold yet either. The boat rides are short and usually shallow depths . This is great for new spearfishers and very experienced ones alike. A speargun is not necessary, a pole spear and goody bag work much better. Again, SSDS, has privately reserved this vessel too.

January 17-19/2014 Crystal River, Rainbow River manatee trip
This weekend we will be doing two days of diving and snorkeling with the Manatee in Crystal River as well as drift diving down the Rainbow River. These giant Mammals enjoy the constant 72 degree water temp  during the winter time, making this the best time of year to see them. Kids and non divers are welcome to come on this one.

March 22-29/2014 Cayman Islands Liveaboard
The New Years trip to Belize is sold out and we are down to 4 spaces available on our Spring Break trip to the Cayman Islands. This is a very luxurious boat with great food and world class diving. We have booked this boat many times over the past few years and they always do a great job.

Continuing Education
The Nitrox Course and Spearfishing Clinic have been very popular so far this year. We have room and this will be the last time we these classes are offered this year.

November 23, 9:30 am at The SCUBA School - Enriched Air NITROX 

Have you ever dreamed of having longer no-decompression limits to take pictures or explore a wreck? Did you ever want to be safer while diving, reducing the potential risk of decompression sickness?Nitrox is the key. Due to the reduced fraction of nitrogen in your breathing gas, your body will have less work and the de-saturation times will be reduced. In your ENRICHED AIR NITROX program you will learn all the necessary rules for planning dives with Nitrox and using Nitrox in a safe way. An important key point in the entire program is analyzing your own tank prior to any Nitrox dive.

November 23, 12:30 pm at The SCUBA School - Spearfishing Clinic
Those of you that are enrolled in the NITROX Course might want to consider the Spearfishing Clinic that starts immediately afterwards. NITROX works well with most of the spearfishing that we participate in. Forrest, who teaches both of these courses here at The SCUBA School, is ranked among the top competitors in the Alabama Spearfishing Association as are several of his former students. In this class you will learn skills necessary to participate in and become a successful spearfisher.

Holiday Equipment Specials

From now until the end of the year all of our Wrist Computers come with a free transmitter! This is a savings of over $450.

SSDS is the best place for the absolute best coolers on the market - Pelican Coolers that come with a lifetime warranty. We have every size and color they make, and they will hold ice for up to 10 days. We use these like crazy on our spearfishing trips. Those of you that have a hunter, fisher or drinker on your Christmas list and don't know what to get them, come see us!