
The Holidays are upon us. It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner and January classes will soon follow. Be sure to join us for our annual Christmas Party. This is a time to think of upgrading your dive gear, planning your 2007 dive schedule and introducing your friends to diving by bringing them to one of our FREE intro sessions. Check out our schedule of classes and get your Bonaire deposit to us. Details follow. . . . . .
DECEMBER
JANUARY
7 FREE Intro Scuba Session at Marietta YMCA 12:00 noon
APRIL
TBA Florida Keys Trip
JUNE
JULY
CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE
!http://www.scubawv.com
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8 reasons to buy your equipment from a reputable dive shop
A dive shop does not only sell equipment we also sell service to accompany the equipment. Buying equipment cheap makes you feel great when you purchase it but you feel bad when you have problems. Buying quality with service makes you feel great all the time.
Scuba WV Inc.’s business hours are as follows:
MONDAY 5:30 - 7:30 PM
TUESDAY CLOSED
WEDNESDAY CLOSED
THURSDAY 4:30 - 6:30 PM
FRIDAY 4:30 - 6:30 PM
SATURDAY 12:00 - 3:00 PM
One of us may be at the shop at other times. Please call ahead and if someone is here we are OPEN!
At other times call Jim at 485-6972 or Marvin at 422-1329 and we may be able to meet you at the shop.
The shop phone # is 422-4398 or (800)452-0140 in OH and WV.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
December 2, 6:00 PM
Our gala Christmas Party will be held on Saturday evening December 2, 2006 beginning at 6:00 PM at the shop.
This annual event is an opportunity for all of us to get together with friends and share photos, slides, videos, and scrapbooks of past dive adventures. We have a special video about Bonaire that will be presented.
We will provide drinks and would like to ask you to bring your favorite covered snack dish or desert. Be sure to mark you calendar now and join us for an enjoyable evening. We look forward to sharing some time with you!
FLORIDA KEYS TRIP
April 26 – 30, 2007
Mark your calendar, the Keys trip has been scheduled. We will be leaving Thursday evening April 26 and will return Monday evening April 30th.Tropical fish, coral, and easy Keys diving. We will be taking along at least two SCUBA WV instructors to make your diving safe and convenient and to tend to any last minute equipment adjustments. Your job is to sit back, relax and experience the Keys disease: that change in attitude that comes with a change in latitude – and the best diving in the continental US. If you don’t fit in anywhere else, you will fit in the Keys.
Prices are pending as this is being written. We hope to keep the price similar to last year. Please call Roger at the shop for details. We will be able to take a limited number of students for their checkout dives on this trip. Availability is on a first come first serve basis. Get your $150.00 deposit to us to assure your spot on this fun trip.
So, come on, I want you to go diving with us. Let Scuba WV take care of the details to make your tropical diving safe and fun so you can be that laid-back scuba bum you were always intended to be. ROGER
2007 BONAIRE TRIP
July 7 – 14, 2007Our 21st annual Bonaire trip has been booked for the above dates. Make your plans now and start looking forward to another exciting adventure at Capt. Don’s Habitat on beautiful Bonaire. Plan to enjoy the crystal clear water, abundant marine life, easy diving, and spending time with our great group of divers.
Warm clear calm Caribbean water, fantastic coral reefs, prolific marine life, great weather, easy and excellent shore diving, outstanding boat diving, fun night diving, great accommodations, courteous and friendly staff, super dive guides, convenient dive gear storage, fine food and drink, Charlie, Capt. Don, Lover’s ice cream, good friends, and just a great time are all hallmarks of another wonderful week in Bonaire.
Hey, don’t take our word for it, just join us and experience it for yourself! You won’t be disappointed.
There will be some changes at Habitat and in our pricing this year. First all the cottages have been upgraded to Oasis configuration. This means that each bedroom has it’s own separate shower and bathroom area. Marvin and I and our wives stayed in one of these last year and they are really nice. The downside of this is that the pricing has increased. We will no longer have Cottage pricing. Our lowest price option will be Oasis pricing. We will also have a limited number of Deluxe Suites and Ocean View rooms available.
Also this year we have returned to a 12 boat dive package instead of the 6 we have been doing. We are also including 32% Nitrox for all divers who have Nitrox certification. We will offer a Nitrox course prior to the trip for those of you who do not have this certification.
We will offer two airfare choices from Columbus Ohio this year. We have reserved 25 seats on the Continental redeye flight through Houston that arrives in Bonaire on Saturday morning. We have 21 seats reserved on an American Airlines flight through San Juan arriving in Bonaire Saturday evening. Unfortunately both of these airfare options are more expensive than last year.
Rental pickup trucks are also available at the very good rate of $165.00 + tax that we had last year. I have reserved ten of them.
Our trip package this year will include:
Estimated price at this time is $1851.00 with Oasis accommodations and CO redeye airfare. AA airfare will be a little less. We are still working on getting better airfare prices so the above price is still tentative. We are now accepting $300.00 deposits for the trip. Preferences on airfare and accommodations are on a first come first serve basis. Don’t delay in getting your deposit to us. We look forward to another great week at Capt. Don’s Habitat and hope you can share it with us. JIM
GIFT CERTIFICATES
AVAILABLE
Consider one of our Gift Certificates for that diver who has everything! Scuba WV gift certificates can be purchased in any denomination and can be used for classes, equipment, trips or anything we offer here at the shop. A SCUBA class makes a unique Christmas gift!!
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
Stainless Spring Fin Straps $31.95
Ankle Weights $26.50
Dry Box $11.95 Dry Bag $27.00
PC Light $43.20 Pca Light $36.00
Reef Fish Behavior Book $48.95
Rite Bite Silicone Mouthpiece $18.00
Trek Split Fins $160.00
The Sammy Towel $10.75
Mini Retractor $24.00
Lots of other gift items in stock!
WINTER SCUBA CLASSES
Turn on your friends to scuba diving. Let our experienced instructors prepare them for the exciting underwater world. Bring a friend to one of our FREE Introductory Scuba Sessions. These sessions are designed to inform the non-diving public about the adventure of diving and about the scuba course. Participants also get to try scuba in the pool so be sure to bring your bathing suit!Our excellent entry-level YMCA Open Water Scuba courses are scheduled to begin soon at a location near you. Locations, dates and times follow.
PARKERSBURG WV AREA
FREE Intro Session Parkersburg YMCA 6:00 PM Tuesday evening Jan. 2, 2007.
Open Water Scuba course begins at the Y on Tuesday 6:00 PM Jan. 9, 2007.
CHARLESTON WV AREA
FREE Intro Session Charleston Family YMCA 6:00 PM Monday evening Jan. 8, 2007.
Open Water Scuba course begins at the Y on Monday 6:00 PM Jan. 15, 2007.
MARIETTA OH AREA
FREE Intro Session Marietta OH YMCA 12:00 noon Sunday afternoon Jan. 7, 2007.
Open Water Scuba course begins at the Y on Sunday 12:00 noon Jan. 14, 2007.
CLARKSBURG AREA
FREE Intro Session Harrison Co. YMCA 6:00 PM Friday evening Jan. 5, 2007.
Open Water Scuba course begins at the Y on Friday 6:00 PM Jan. 12, 2007.
Be sure to join us for one of our Intro sessions. If you are already certified come along and bring some friends with you. Let us know if you know someone who might like to learn to dive and we will send them a FREE packet of literature!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
We have all been diving a lot this summer and now we are getting ready to start fall scuba classes. In this edition you can read about our trips to the Grand Caymans and Bonaire as well as the schedule for Open Water Scuba classes in your area. Be sure to encourage your non-diving friends to join us for a class. We would love to share our enjoyment of the underwater world with them!!!! . . . .
SEPTEMBER
5 FREE Intro Scuba session Pburg YMCA 6:00 PM
8 FREE Intro Scuba session Harrison Co YMCA 6:00 PM
11 FREE Intro Scuba session Chas YMCA 6:00 PM
Scuba Class begins at Pburg YMCA 6:00 PM
Scuba class begins at Harrison Co. YMCA 6:00 PM
17 FREE Intro Scuba session at Marietta YMCA 3:00 PM
Scuba class begins at Charleston Y 6:00 PM
Scuba class begins at Marietta Y at 3:00 PM
NOVEMBER
16 20 Vortex Springs FL dive trip
DECEMBER
Christmas Party at Scuba WV
CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE!
http://www.scubawv.com
e-mail scubawv@scubawv.com
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TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR SAFE DIVING
1. Be fit. Have a medical checkup. Be a good swimmer. Exercise regularly. Dont dive if you feel below par.
2. Get good training. Reading a book is not enough; enroll in a good course. Learn the facts and procedures of safe diving.
3. Have good equipment. Be careful about bargains and dont build it yourself. Keep your equipment in top condition; check it before every dive. Use only tested and approved equipment. Refrain from alteration or untrained adjustment of equipment.
4. Never dive alone. Always have a buddy with you underwater. Have a tender at the surface whenever possible.
5. Know the diving area. Avoid dangerous places and poor conditions. Take whatever special precautions the area requires.
6. Use a boat, float, or both. Fly the diver flag. Be able to reach safety fast. If motorboats are in the area, surface only close to your diver flag and with caution.
7. Plan your dive. Solve the problems in advance. Know decompression rules. Keep track of depth and time. Stick to your plans.
8. Be ready for emergencies. Have plans of action ready. Know lifesaving, first aid, and rescue breathing. Have first aid equipment. Have a divers c-card. Know the location of the nearest recompression chamber.
9. Beware of breath-holding with scuba. Breathe continuously throughout the dive; exhale all the way up on an emergency ascent.
10. Get medical attention. If any abnormality develops during or after a dive, dont waste time; dont try to "drown the problem".
E. H. Lanphier, M.D. The New Science of Skin and Scuba Diving
Scuba WV Inc.s business hours are as follows:
MONDAY 5:30 - 7:30 PM
TUESDAY CLOSED
WEDNESDAY CLOSED
THURSDAY 4:30 - 6:30 PM
FRIDAY 4:30 - 6:30 PM
SATURDAY 12:00 - 3:00 PM
One of us may be at the shop at other times. Please call ahead and if someone is here we are OPEN!
At other times call Jim at 485-6972 or Marvin at 464-4337 and we may be able to meet you at the shop.
The shop phone # is 422-4398 or (800)452-0140 in OH and WV.
CAYMAN AGGRESSOR TRIP
A group of seventeen excited divers traveled to Grand Cayman June 24 July 1, 2006 to spend a week on the Cayman Aggressor IV. Capt. Sam and crew greeted us and got us set up in our rooms and on the dive deck. What followed was a great week of easy diving with good friends and crew.
Our dive at Stingray City was a highlight of the trip. In just 12 feet of water we interacted with several stingrays. By carefully leading the stingrays around with a handful of squid divers were able to control the stingrays in a very enjoyable way. Roger especially developed a rapport with one of them that you have to see on the video to appreciate. I think all of us were impressed with the experience.
The weather was perfect for our crossing from Grand Cayman to Little Cayman and Cayman Brac where we made numerous dives on world famous Bloody Bay Wall. There were lots of coral caverns and swim throughs to enjoy. At Cayman Brac we dived on the sunken Russian destroyer renamed the MV Keith Tibbetts.
The diving was fun and the visibility excellent. The weather held well for us until the last day when we were trying to dry our gear for the return trip home. A rain squall seemed to park right over the boat for about 4 hours. The only bad weather we had.
CAYMAN TRIP VIDEO AVAILABLE
Danny Graham was our videographer on the Cayman Aggressor trip. Danny has completed editing his video into a very nice DVD of the trip. The Stingray City portion alone is worth the price of the video. Be sure to give us a call if you would like to purchase a copy. Price is just $50.00. You can e-mail Danny at danrgraham@prodigy.net.
BONAIRE TRIP
July 29 August 5, 2006
What a great summer of diving. After a great Cayman Aggressor trip we were soon packing our gear bags for a week at Capt. Dons Habitat on the beautiful island of Bonaire.
This was our 20th anniversary trip to Bonaire and it was a special week. Thirty-five travelers joined us for the sun, sea, and diving. As usual the diving was excellent, the coral and marine life healthy and abundant, and the visibility good. Because of the ease of shore diving you could dive as much as you liked. Many in our group came in from the boat dives and immediately suited up for a dive off the dock at the resort. Our package included 6 boat dives, but most of us did 8 or 9. They were just $30.00 extra. I heard someone say they had gotten 26 dives in for the week. I just did 15, but then I know they will let me come back!
On Thursday evening the resort hosted a special Happy Hour and award ceremony for our group. The Tourism Corporation of Bonaire awards certificates and medals to people who return to Bonaire year after year. This is the Bonaire Ambassador Award. Bronze medal for 10 years, Silver for 15 years, and Gold for 20 years. Jim, Marvin, Donnie, Roger, and Danny Graham received Gold medals. Pearl Graham and Donna Trippett received Silver medals. Karen Pace received a Bronze medal.
For the first time ever a special award was given to a dive shop for 20 years of bringing groups to Bonaire. Scuba WV Inc. was awarded the first ever dive shop Gold Medal!!! Thanks to all of you who have traveled with us to Bonaire over the years. You are the ones who made this award possible!
I think everyone had an enjoyable and memorable week of diving at Habitat. The one question I heard frequently was, "When are we coming back?" Stay tuned for details on Bonaire trip #21. Plans are pending. JIM
TRIP SURVEY
We all had a great time diving this summer. Now we need your help to decide where we should go next. We will plan another annual Bonaire trip for next summer, but we would like your input on other destinations you might like to try. We are considering either land-based resorts like Habitat or live aboard destinations like the Aggressors. Please write down your preferences and pop them into the mail to us and we will use your input to help us choose future destinations!
CONTINUING ED SURVEY
We would also like your help in scheduling advanced training classes. The Scuba WV instructors have several specialty instructor ratings. We can teach Advanced Open Water, SLAM, Wreck Diving, Search & Recovery Diving, Cavern Diving, U/W Photography (both still and video), DAN O2, Nitrox, as well as some others I cant think of right now. Please drop us a note (include it with you trip survey above) and let us know what advanced training you would be interested in.
DRYSUITS! DRYSUITS! DRYSUITS!
Tired of getting chilled during a dive? Or worse yet, NOT diving because of the thought of getting cold! Shivvver no longer! Come out and talk to us about all the benefits of diving dry. Ask Donnie! He doesnt carry an American Express card but He rarely dives without his dry suit!
CONCEALED CARRY
PISTOL CLASSES
Terrorism and violent crime seem to be on everyones mind these days. In WV and OH law-abiding citizens have the right to obtain a concealed carry license from their respective state. Carrying a concealed firearm is kind of like wearing the seat belts in your vehicle. You arent planning on having an accident, but your want to be safely prepared if you do have one. Most of us will never have a violent encounter, but some of us choose to be prepared if we do.
A prerequisite for applying for a concealed carry permit is to take a recognized pistol safety and shooting class. Jim Carez is and NRA certified pistol instructor. The class he offers, like our scuba class, is complete and thorough.
In the classroom the student will learn the basics of gun safety, the parts and components of firearms, proper shooting techniques, types of firearms, levels of awareness to recognize threats in advance, proper carry methods, making the home a safer place, and the legal aspects of concealed carry and the use of deadly force. Class sessions are held at the Scuba shop.
At the range we will shoot about 100 rounds of ammunition. Range exercises will include shooting simple groups, shooting while moving, shooting from behind cover, and holster draw techniques. Range sessions are conducted at the Ft. Harmar range near Marietta.
Jim is a very experienced and safe instructor. The class is fun enjoyable and educational. Anyone who has a gun in their home or who wishes to apply for a concealed carry permit needs this class. The class includes NRA certification in Basic Pistol & Personal Protection in the Home. It meets the requirements for WV and OH. Please call the shop or call Jim at 304-485-6972 for information about the next class. JIM
FALL SCUBA CLASSES
Turn on your friends to scuba diving. Let our experienced instructors prepare them for the exciting underwater world. Bring a friend to one of our FREE Introductory Scuba Sessions. These sessions are designed to inform the non-diving public about the adventure of diving and about the scuba course. Participants also get to try scuba in the pool so be sure to bring your bathing suit!
Our excellent entry-level YMCA Open Water Scuba courses are scheduled to begin soon at a location near you. Locations, dates and times follow.
PARKERSBURG WV AREA
FREE Intro Session Parkersburg YMCA 6:00 PM Tuesday evening Sept. 5, 2006.
Open Water Scuba course begins at the Y on Tuesday 6:00 PM Sept. 12, 2006.
CHARLESTON WV AREA
FREE Intro Session Charleston Family YMCA 6:00 PM Monday evening Sept. 11, 2006.
Open Water Scuba course begins at the Y on Monday 6:00 PM Sept. 18, 2006.
MARIETTA OH AREA
FREE Intro Session Marietta OH YMCA 3:00 PM Sunday afternoon Sept 17, 2006.
Open Water Scuba course begins at the Y on Sunday 3:00 PM Sept. 24, 2006.
CLARKSBURG AREA
FREE Intro Session Harrison Co. YMCA 6:00 PM Friday evening Sept. 8, 2006.
Open Water Scuba course begins at the Y on Friday 6:00 PM Sept. 15, 2006.
Be sure to join us for one of our Intro sessions. If you are already certified come along and bring some friends with you. Let us know if you know someone who might like to learn to dive and we will send them a FREE packet of literature!
PLEASE PASS THIS NEWSLETTER ON TO SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING TO DIVE.
YOUR REFERRALS ARE APPRECIATED!