july 2011 vol 1. issue 7

Volume 1 Issue 4

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South Beach divingThe Ultimate Miami Vice

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JULY 2011

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SoutheastDive News

The complete resource for diving in the Southeast.

www.sedivenews.comPublisher / Editor-in-Chief Rick Stratton/Kathy Stratton

[email protected] Director

Brian [email protected]

Production ManagerIJ James

[email protected] Coordinator

Selene [email protected]

Staff WriterJamie Farris

Graphic DesignersJack Bayliss, TJ Pierzchala

Accounts ManagerTove Chatham

Advertising Sales ManagerKeath Allen

(360) 240-1874 [email protected]

Circulation/subscriptions 360-240-1874 Dive News Magazine is committed to promoting the sport of scuba diving in the Northeast and Midwest. We will present a practical, unbiased point of view regarding all aspects of the sport of scuba diving. The Dive News Magazine believes in honesty and integrity in business and will support all efforts related to this. We encourage readers to participate in determining the content of this publication by giving us their opinions on the types of articles they would like to see. We invite letters to the editor, manuscripts and photographs related to diving or diving-related business. Send us your stories and photos!

IMPORTANT NOTICEThe Dive News Magazine reserves the right to refuse service to anyone it chooses. The contents of Northeast and Midwest Dive News are opinions of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor or any of its staff. The publishers and contributors assume no responsibility for any mishap claimed to be a result of use of this material. Diving is an adventure sport and contains inherent risks. Improper use of diving equipment or improper diving techniques may result in serious injury or death. Readers are advised to use their own best judgment in each individual situation.

MOVING?In order to continue receiving your magazine uninterrupted, please notify Northeast Dive News when you change your mailing address. To ensure uninterrupted service, please contact us six to eight weeks before the change of address occurs. You can call us at 360-240-1874 PST or email us at [email protected] or mail at:

BEDROCk PuBlICATIONSP.O. Box 1494

Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Publisher’s Note ................................4Incoming Mail ....................................5Southeast Hot News .........................6

Monthly ColuMns

Southeast Activities ...........................7 Tropical Dive Directory ...............22-23Local Dive Directory ...................22-23

10 South Beach Diving – The Ultimate Miami ViceThree reasons make the South Beach area such a great place to dive: the hurricanes, the artificial reef program, and the South Beach area itself. Hurricanes add more vessels and boats to the list of “wreckreational” dive sites. Large freighters, tug boats, barges, oil rigs, cement bars and blocks make great homes for artificial reef sea creatures. Finally, the South Beach area itself is a great place to spend time between dives. By Mike Hughes

14 Lobster Mini Season – A Seriously Cool EventThe lobster season is upon us, which also means the Florida tradition of lobster mini-season will beckon divers (experienced or not) to the coastal waters of the Atlantic hoping to catch a few bugs. But this event isn’t just about catching dinner, the controversial event causes many dive shops and charters to caution divers to know the rules, the effect on the environment, and know their own limitations while diving. By Rick Stratton

18 Eleuthera Bahamas – Diving Off the Beaten PathThe key to ultimate Bahamas diving is to stay away from the well-traveled destinations like Freeport and Nassau. Cruise ships and casinos disgorge millions of people and the reefs have been long ago fished out. Bahamas’ out islands are more laid back, the people genteel with manners learned at home. An easy to get to island with flights into Governor’s Harbor, the administrative capital, and an easy island to enjoy blue water and miles of coral sand beaches. By John Christopher Fine

sigN up for our NeW e-subsCriptioN at WWW.diveNeWsNetWork.Com

southeast tRaDItIon

loCal DIVe DestInatIon

tRoPICal DestInatIons

◄ Cover byBill Lamp’l is a PADI Course Director

and owner of Grove Scuba in Miami, FL. His passion is traveling the world photographing reefs and wrecks. He writes for several publications and his work has been featured in magazines and television. He teaches photography workshops at Grove Scuba and on location at some of the most exotic destinations around the world.

Grove Scuba opened in 2006 in the heart of Coconut Grove, Florida. Grove Scuba is

Miami’s only PADI 5-Star Instructor Training Center. From beginning certifications to instructor training, Grove Scuba is committed to serving the Scuba Diving community locally and internationally. With a multi-lingual staff of instructors, they offer all courses in both English and Spanish and offer courses based around the customer’s schedule. www.grovescuba.com

pubLisher’s Note do you have an opinion? Contact us: [email protected]

4 CheCk out our NeW Website: WWW.diveNeWsNetWork.Com

Southeast Dive News is Here!Advertise with us.We network consumers and businesses together.Our magazine represents the local dive community to consumers and helps them become more active in the sport.

Cost effective AdvertisingOur rates are reasonable compared to other publications, yet our circulation is targeted toward the local, regional active dive community creating a GREAT VALUE.

Build Awareness with Decision MakersOur magazine is read by dive shop owners, instructors and staff member as well as consumers.

Established Trust and Credibility in the Market PlaceWe produce the most respected regional magazine in the country. Our magazine is full of entertaining stories written by local divers and then professionally edited, so that we can inspire others to dive more often.

Contact Keath Allen360-240-1874 ext. [email protected]

Welcome to the July edition of Southeast Dive News. Summer is finally here and there are divers all over the Southeast dragging

out their gear for summer diving! We have a bevy of stories in the hopper just waiting to see the pages of your Southeast magazine.

Can I just say it? The Southeast Rocks! I am overwhelmed by all of the support we are getting from the local dive community. You folks really know how to share the info! We are honored to be a medium for divers to obtain all that information. Thank you for welcoming our family into yours.

In this month’s edition, we are heading to the South Beach area in sunny Florida with writer Mike Hughes. He showcases some of the many places there are to dive in the area and even gives a shout out to the surface night life Miami is known for!

We also take a look at a long standing Florida tradition, the mini lobster season. There are plenty of people on the west coast who are envious of those who can get down to Florida for the two-day event. Find out about the rules and regulations, as well as the controversy around this institution. Learn how to protect the environment a little bit while trying to catch your dinner!

Finally, writer John C. Fine will show you the ins and outs of diving the Bahamas. Join us as we take to the waters of the Eleuthera and explore the easy life in the laid back unchartered blue waters of the version of the Bahamas less traveled.

I want to once again ask you, readers, vendors and dive shop retailers to join us on our mission to inform the local dive community. We welcome your stories, your announcements and your contributions to the dive community. Over the years we have heard some incredible stories about dive adventures. Share yours with us. Send us your announcements, stories, photos and don’t forget those secret dive destinations and we will help you share them with the rest of the dive community. Come on -- show us what you’ve got!

Dive into Us!

Thank you SouTheaST Dive CommuniTy for WelComing uS inTo your family!

RickRick Strattonfacebook.com/[email protected]

Learn more about Rick’s new dive hood on pg. 21

moNthLY artiCLes Letter to the editor

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Dear rick,Good Afternoon. I have a charter boat in Pensacola, FL. called “A

Workingman’s Charter”. I just received the “Digital Edition” of your magazine and I have to tell you I really liked it. Being able to get the digital copy is convenient and kind of cool. We love the magazine including the Hot News, Activity Calendar and all of the features; they are awesome. How do I get listed and what other types of things do you run?

Thank you,Capt. Randy Sawtelle

Hey capt. ranDy, We love submissions! You can submit a dive report, any hot news you may

have. Do you have a new charter? Did you update your boat? We may even print that you re-painted your boat if it looks cool enough.

We also print any charity you have done such as taking a Boy Scout Troop out to dive. Did you donate a charter to DiveHeart? Have you helped out with a clean-up? All of these things are items that matter to our readers.

And of course, any free events you may be hosting in the near future like hosting a cookout on your boat that’s BYOB for July 4th or having a close of season bash to raise funds for a charity event – it’s all news! We are happy to run just about anything our local charters are doing to support the dive industry. The key is they have to be free events, open door, or charity focused. However, this gives you another way to get your name into the magazine. Free publicity, right?

Also we love cool pictures, so feel free to send it out to us and we’ll be happy to print it as soon as we can and give you a shout out for them! We also will see about featuring you on our website, our newest tool.

Looking forward to hearing about your next cool event!

Rick

SenD uS your commentS!If you are interested in contributing local diving info,

contact our editorial staff at [email protected] Don’t Have to be a writer to be a contributor!

hot NeWs get your business noticed by sending us your NeWs/eveNts: [email protected]

6 seNd us Your NeWs/eveNts free at [email protected]

• You Get FREE Advertising!• You Build Awareness!• You Grow Your Business!

Send us Your News & Events - It’s FREE!

Call 360-240-1874 ext. 106, or email [email protected]

StuDentS & ScientiStS collect important Data at SeaStudents from the University of Texas Marine Science

Institute (UTMSI) have been working on-board the MANTA off of Grand Isle, LA helping scientists collect important ocean data. People interested in their efforts can check out where they were and see some of the SeaKeeper 1000 data collected along the way by visiting NOAA’s Where in the World? Ocean Observations page at www.ncddc.noaa.gov.

introDucing DivecacHing – a new way to keep DiverS activeProfessional Dive Centers are

always looking for fun local diving events to keep their current customers engaged. DEMA is announcing the release of a new in-water game called “DiveCaching,” designed to keep divers active locally while promoting more diving, retail dive business and keeping customers involved. It’s a simple in-water activity that can be conducted almost anywhere, regardless of visibility or dive conditions and allows divers to explore new dive sites, visit favorite locations with a new eye for adventure, and simply thrive on the fun and excitement of discovering ‘treasure’ underwater. DiveCaching gives certified divers a great reason to dive locally, use and update their equipment, brush up on previously learned skills such as navigation and search, and just have a great time with family and friends. For more info on DiveCaching visit www.BeADiver.com.

teen reSearcH unDerwater explorerS team witH tankS-a-lot Dive cHarterS

The Teen Research Underwater Explorers, or T.R.U.E. Dive Team, uses marine science and SCUBA diving as tools to mentor kids ages 10-18.

The hands-on experiences are designed to promote science, active stewardship and conservation of our oceans and coasts, while also building citizenship and leadership capabilities for future generations. Now the T.R.U.E. team and Tanks-a-Lot Dive Charters have come together to conduct a Fish count study in the Gulf. The T.R.U.E. Dive Team has conducted extensive underwater surveys of the diverse assemblages of corals, sponges, macro invertebrates and fish inhabiting the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the data collected will be used for ground-truth satellite imagery and augment databases at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Check out T.R.U.E. and Tanks-a-Lot Charters working together at www.truediveteam.org.

lionfiSH removeD in SeconD annual miDDle floriDa keyS rounDup

Divers successfully removed 531 invasive lionfish from Florida Keys waters May 14, during the Second Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby Series in Long Key, Fla., organized by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). Ten teams of divers competed for $3,350 in cash and prizes in the categories of most, largest and smallest lionfish in the first of three lionfish derbies planned for 2011. Team “Strategery” of Key Largo netted $1,000 for most lionfish with their haul of 158 fish collected in the single day event. For complete derby results, visit www.reef.org/lionfish/derbies.

alabama man nameD unDerwater pHotograpHer of tHe yearThe International Union for the Conservation of Nature

(IUCN) has voted William Goodwin of Birmingham, Alabama, the Underwater Photographer of the Year. Goodwin, who operates Physical Therapy Solution in Birmingham, was ecstatic upon hearing the news... “I have been diving and creating underwater photographs for 50 years!” Congratulations William! For more info visit www.feraldiversmedia.com.

aquatic explorerS announce tHe explorer i in SoutH floriDaThe Aquatic Explorers held a “Launch” party in Key Biscayne,

Florida for the new 42’ Newton vessel, the Explorer I designed and outfitted specifically for Scuba divers. The morning following the launch party the Explorer I pulled out of the slip for its inaugural trip. The new boat’s man at the helm, Captain Nick, has close to 30 years’ experience running boats in New York, the Carolinas, and doing deliveries up and down the east coast. Congrats Guys! www.aquaticexplorers.com

CLub meetiNgs & eveNts do you want your event listed here? Contact us: [email protected]


Galapagos Diving

Sept. 3-10

Your one stop shopping for international scuba travel

1-800-737-3483www.ultimatedivetravel.com

[email protected] is an Ultimate Dive Travel group sponsored

trip on the new Buddy Wolf liveaboard. Starting September 2011 our two new boats will go out

every Saturday to Saturday. Free Nitrox.

July 2: Atlanta Underwater Explorers, 3p.m., East Atlanta Library Branch, Atlanta, GA. www.diveaue.org

July 4: Underwater Bike Race, Contact Discovery Diving for start time and loca-tion. Proceeds benefit Children’s Mile of Hope. www.discoverydiving.com

July 5: Fanta-Seas Dive Club meeting, 7-9 p.m., Fanta-Seas Divers, 1400 Eatonton Rd., Ste. 750, Madison, GA. www.fanta-seadivers.com

July 7: Caloosa Dive Club meeting, 8 p.m., Cape Coral Yacht Club, Cape Coral, FL. www.diveclub.org

July 7: Jupiter Drift Divers meeting, 7 p.m., Jupiter Fire Station Community Room, Jupiter, FL. www.jupiterdriftdivers.com

July 11-16: Kid’s Scuba Camp (ages 10-18) Ocean Sports, Dunedin, FL. Limited Space call Jo Ann (727) 733-1919

July 12: Clearwater Hogs Spearfishing Club meeting, 7 p.m., Ocean Sports, Dune-din, FL. Call Carl Nelson (727) 515-4672

July 12: Atlanta Reef Dwellers Scuba Club, 7 p.m., Hudson Grill, Brookhaven, Atlanta, GA. www.atlantareefdwellers.org

July 13: Bay Area Reef Runners Club Meeting, 7 p.m., Pssghetti’s, Clearwater, FL. Genny Donaldson (727) 365-6172

July 13: Blue Heron Bridge Night Dive, 7 p.m., Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL. www.force-e.com

July 15: Florida Keys night Diving, Ocean

Sports, 4 p.m., Call Genny (727) 365-6172 July 16: Florida Keys night Diving with Ocean Sports, 11:30 a.m., Speigel Grove & Duane, FL. Call Genny (727) 365-6172 July 15: Florida Keys night Diving with Ocean Sports, 8 a.m., The Eagle & Bibb, FL. Call Genny (727) 365-6172

July 18: Lionfish Roundup. Call Dis-covery Diving for details. (252) 728-2265

July 18: Sea Turtle Dive Club meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Jasper Dive Center, Jasper, GA. www.seaturtlediveclub.com

July 19: Orlando Reef Divers meeting, 7 p.m., Paddy Murphy’s, Baldwin Park, FL. www.meetup.com/Orlando-Reef-Divers/

July 20: Central Florida Pleasure Div-ers meeting, 7 p.m., Denny’s Restaurant, Orlando, FL. www.cfpdivers.com

July 21: Caloosa Dive Club meeting, 8 p.m., Cape Coral Yacht Club, Cape Coral, FL. www.diveclub.org

July 21: KSC Barracuda Dive Club meet-ing, 6:30 p.m., Merritt Island Library, Ken-nedy Space Center, FL. kscbarracudas.org July 22-24: Wreck Racing League. Ft. Lauderdale, FL, wreckracingleague.com

July 23: Discover Scuba, 9 a.m., Low-country Scuba, Mt. Pleasant, SC. www.low-countryscuba.com

July 29: Blue Heron Bridge Night Dive, 7 p.m., Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL. www.force-e.com

July 30: Fossil Ledge Dive Trip. Wilm-

ington, NC Scuba Now Dive Shop. www.wilmingtondiving.com

Aug 2: Fanta-Seas Dive Club meeting, 7-9 p.m., Fanta-Seas Divers, 1400 Eatonton Rd., Ste. 750, Madison, GA. www.fanta-seadivers.com

Aug 4: Caloosa Dive Club meeting, 8 p.m., Cape Coral Yacht Club, Cape Coral, FL. www.diveclub.org

Aug 6: Atlanta Underwater Explorers, 3p.m., East Atlanta Library Branch, Atlanta, GA. www.diveaue.org

Aug 9: Clearwater Hogs Spearfishing Club meeting, 7 p.m., Ocean Sports, Dune-din, FL. Call Carl Nelson (727) 515-4672

Aug 9: Atlanta Reef Dwellers Scuba Club, 7 p.m., Hudson Grill, Brookhaven, Atlanta, GA. www.atlantareefdwellers.org

Aug 10: Bay Area Reef Runners Club Meeting, 7 p.m., Pssghetti’s, Clearwater, FL. Genny Donaldson (727) 365-6172

Aug 12: Blue Heron Bridge Night Dive, 7 p.m., Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL. www.force-e.com

Aug 15: Sea Turtle Dive Club meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Jasper Dive Center, Jasper, GA. www.seaturtlediveclub.com

Aug 16: Orlando Reef Divers meeting, 7 p.m., Paddy Murphy’s, Baldwin Park, FL. www.meetup.com/Orlando-Reef-Divers/

Aug 17: Suncoast Reef Rovers, 6 p.m., Nokomis Community Center, Venice, FL. www.suncoastreefrovers.com

8

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Dunleavy Southeast News April 2011 1 3/4/11 11:28 PM

South Florida has been pumping approximately 300 million gallons of sewage a day into the ocean damaging beaches, marine life and

coral reef. In 2008, Florida lawmakers set a deadline of 2025 to stop pumping sewage; now, those same lawmakers are back peddling. As divers, we may need to fight to save the Florida coastline. DEMA and PADI are in it for the long haul.

The original plan was to treat most of the region’s wastewater to reuse for other purposes; but in a recent reversal of policy, several Miami lawmakers introduced a new bill that would delay the 2025 dumping deadline until the year 2030. For the dive industry this is unacceptable and they are now working in opposition to the new bill.

pHoto by Stock.xcHng

Following DEMA’s efforts to prevent the deadline extension, Florida’s Senate Committee on Community Affairs recently approved a strike-all amendment that maintains the 2025 deadline. DEMA Executive Director, Tom Ingram, says his agency is appreciative of the effort. “We are grateful to be involved in the effort to prevent the extension of the sewage outfall on Florida’s reefs,” said Ingram. “Our goal in doing so was and is to help keep the water and reefs healthy so divers will continue to have a clean environment in which to dive.”

DEMA, along with PADI, hold the position that dumping wastewater into Florida’s oceans has damaged beaches, marine life and coral reef. “We just want to close the pipes as soon as possible and keep them closed, reducing ocean pollution,” Ingram says. “The dive industry will continue to support the campaign against contaminating Florida’s water - any water - with sewage.”

Dive News Publisher Rick Stratton has very strong feelings regarding the issue and he wants to add his voice to those of DEMA and PADI. “The claim is they can’t find the money; they can’t afford the change,” Stratton says. “I would propose they can’t afford NOT to stop the pumping of this sewage into the ocean. We are talking short and long term effects here. “

For now the efforts of lawmakers to extend the deadline have been stopped but there are indications they will restart efforts down the line and Ingram says they will continue to monitor the situation in case those new efforts emerge. For more info on this issue visit DEMA.com or PADI.com. If you want to get involved in helping to stop the dumping of waste along the Florida coastline contact your local representatives; the information for all the Florida state reps can be found at www.myfloridahouse.gov. ■


regioNaL NeWs beaver Lake dui dog raLLY

Located high in the Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas feeding the White

River is Beaver Lake. With over 480 miles of shoreline, this 28,000 acre man-made reservoir is a favorite for water sports enthusiasts for fishing, boating, skiing and yes, scuba diving.

Several dive shops take students to the northeast end of the lake for check-out dives. The site is popular for sport divers who compete for space along the crowded shoreline on busy weekends and a large park just north of the dam is the site of one of the largest diving events in Arkansas. April 30 through May 1, tents went up for the tenth annual Diving Unlimited International DUI Owners Group (Dog) rally. What an anniversary celebration!

I had the privilege of joining DUI for this year’s event, the fourth stop on their cross country tour offering divers the chance to test out their line of dry suits, undergarments and accessories. Divers poured in Saturday and Sunday to take

advantage of the chance to talk with DUI staff and check out the different models of DUI suits. They were fitted, suited up and sent out to tour the lake in the latest dry suit technology, having plenty of time for multiple dives and the opportunity to try different suits to compare the different materials and options.

One of the new events at this year’s DOG rallies is their scuba rodeo. In this fun event, teams of three divers compete against each other in a race to dress one of their team members in a DUI suit, including installation of zip seals. The extra-large suits are then inflated and the teams must tow their “victim” out to a buoy and back to the shore. The first team back to shore with a dry victim is declared the victor. This year, four teams battled it out to be crowned the winners and, though not every team won, everyone had a great time!

For more information about DUI dry suits, equipment or DOG Rally tour dates visit their website at www.dui-online.com. ■

Dui Dog rally CelebraTeS 10 yearS in

arkanSaS

Terry and Jamie from TD scuba manning the grill. Photo by Keath Allen.

Volunteers and Dive Shop Owners helped make

the event a success! Photo by Keath Allen.

10

south beaCh southeast destiNatioN

sigN up for our NeW e-subsCriptioN at WWW.diveNeWsNetWork.Com

South Beach Diving

By Mike HughesTravel Editor, Dive News Network

You’ve heard about the Miami Heat and the Miami Dolphins but did

you know the best way to avoid one and get closer to the other is just a short plunge away from the South Beach/Miami shores? Depending on your charter boat radius, there are close to 80 wrecks and reef dive sites to visit and there are three reasons that make the South Beach area such a great place to dive: the hurricanes, the artificial reef program and the South Beach area itself.

Hurricanes and storms because they add more vessels and boats to the potential list of wreck dive sites. The winds and waves have been known to pummel and destroy older wrecks as well and sometimes wave action will move, turn or right one of the wrecks. While the hurricanes don’t expose the wrecks as much as the tourists expose themselves along the southern warm sandy beaches, a little removed sand can show divers all kinds of formerly buried underwater treasures and limestone-laden artifacts.

The artificial reef programs offer divers large freighters, tug boats, barges, oil rigs, cement bars and blocks, as well as other manmade objects all of which make great homes for all types of local reef and transient pelagic sea creatures.

The boundaries for most South Beach dive charter operations extend northward up to the Tenneco Oil platforms near Fort Lauderdale and southward to the Blue Fire at 110 ft. This 175 ft. long passenger freighter sank in 1983 and is a fun dive. The Doc de Mille is also an interesting wreck sitting at 140 ft., but it is so far out it is not often dove on except for long weekends.

In between these boundaries there are dive sites of every nature. Some are unique including the Spirit of Miami, a 727 whose tail section rests at 82 ft. and the forward fuselage and wings at 100 ft. Tropical storm Gordon in 1995 ripped the aluminum shell apart like potato chips in a wind tunnel so there are now pieces everywhere.

Diver strikes a Titanic pose on the bow of Miami’s Dema Trader. Photo by Bill Lamp’l.

The Ultimate Miami Vice

11

southeast destiNatioN south beaCh fLorida

We support our LoCaL dive shop - Without them We WiLL Not have a dive iNdustrY.

Silhouette of a diver surfacing from the reef. Photo by Bill Lamp’l.

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south beaCh fLorida southeast destiNatioN

Key Biscayne National Underwater Park is just minutes south of the South Beach area. Here there are four distinct ecosystems to dive including: mangrove, Biscayne Bay, Florida Keys and the coral reefs. And if all this isn’t enough, just down the road and south across a few waves is the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, America’s first underwater park which just celebrated its 50th year anniversary. If you don’t get a chance to dive here at least take a ride on a glass bottom boat and see what so many years of preserve have accomplished.

Another noted dive site is the Emerald Reef, Miami’s largest reef and don’t forget to visit the home of the large green moray eel named Elvis. He hangs out in the crevices of the collapsed plate coral ledges at Graceland Reef. There are many boats and ships such as the 165 ft. long DEMA Trader. It was taken into custody and sunk in 2003 after being discovered with a slight drug problem.

The first artificial reef around here is the 120 ft. steel hulled Orion at 95 ft. that was sunk in 1981. This is the place to visit if you like schools of fish and gorgonian corals. Other sunken treasures include the 215 ft. long Belzona Barge and the three Belzona tug boats. Wrek Trek includes the 85 ft. long Miss Patricia tugboat, the Miss Karline, Ben’s Antennae Reef, and Billy’s Barge; all in one convenient location and all between 40-60 ft.

For those who like plane wrecks there are the F-4 fighter wrecks south of Elliot Key. Old bottles can be located near Soldiers Key and the resting place for many a diver, through a selected mixture of cement, ashes and sculpture for all eternity, is 45 ft. deep at the Neptune Memorial Reef in Key Biscayne. Recently, the 165 ft. long Princess Britney developed a drug addiction and is now recovering at 90 ft. as an artificial reef. Another popular wreck is the 230 ft. freighter Sheri-Lyn. She rests at 97 ft. and is split in two sections. Some other natural attractions include a series of deep reefs called the Cascades, the 52 ft. deep Fish Hole north of Miami and the 45 ft. deep Aquarium. For those who like to dive deep, there is the Star Trek at 210 ft. It is out of the recreational dive guide limits.

Lastly, many dive charters from the South Beach area head down the way to Key Largo to dive sites like the 510 ft. long Spiegel Grove. I need to do some more “research” on that site. As you can see, the tough demanding world of a writer isn’t for everyone, but personally trying to dive everywhere on the planet is a very rewarding first step...but I digress.

The third ingredient that makes the South Beach area such a great place to start your dives is having the ability to

Goldentail Moray poses for the camera. Photo by Bill Lamp’l.

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If you’re not into planes, how about a pair of 40 ton Vietnam era M-60 army tanks at 50 ft. The two turreted war wagons are separated by tons of living wall boulders. If you’re not into fin kicking, then it’s always fun to drift over Brewster Reef approximately 50 ft. south of Fowey lighthouse. Nearby Car Reef is a good spot to find lobsters peaking out of tire wells.

For night diving you can’t beat Deep

Trench at 60 ft. This 15-20 ft. wide dug out access for an effluent pipeline used in the 1920’s is now an express corridor for tropical fish. For archeology purists there is the Half Moon, a 154 ft. long German racing sailboat built in 1908 and sunk in 1930, just east of Bear Cut off the tip of Key Biscayne. A plaque is set up at the preserve site. A laminated guide may be obtained from a local participating dive shop.

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spend time between dives in South Beach itself. In this short space of sand and surf there are numerous restaurants, nightclubs and beach vendors of every manor, size and description. I can attest by my own personal South Beach diet, it’s hard to beat a hot Cuban breakfast before going out on a dive. You may have to settle for a light snack between dives, but that’s ok, especially if you are planning a festive night of Greek cuisine at Taverna Opa in South Beach on 8th street. Local grocery stores also tend to cater to international clientele

with fresh foods and dishes from around the world you just have to try between active or intentionally inactive beach sessions. Ok, at this point I might have to admit that around this section of Florida I have spent more time on land than in the actual water. It’s not intentional; it’s just South Beach is so unique you can spend a week here before you even remember the waves are just a few yards past the bottle of sun tan lotion and great diving is just beyond the edge of your painstakingly adjusted and smoothed out to perfection beach towel. ■

14

Lobster miNi seasoN southeast dive destiNatioN

dive LoCaLLY - Where it reaLLY matters

SeaSonlobSTer

Spiny lobster. Photo by stock.xchng.

By Dive News Network Staff Writers

Divers get ready for the annual Florida Mini Two-Day Lobster season!

This year’s event begins at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 27 and ends at 12:00 midnight Thursday, July 28. Held on both state and federal waters, the regulations, which are strictly enforced, ensure the safety of the diver, the safety of the environment, as well as the general fairness of the event. When everyone plays within the rules, the thrill of the hunt is what makes this a true tradition in the sunshine state.

Dive Master Kirsten Gash at Boynton Beach Dive Center in Boynton Beach

says the two day season is a chance for recreational divers to have some fun. “They let recreational divers go out before the commercial divers start their season,” Gash says. “It is always fun but there are different regulations depending on what county you are in and different limits as well. Everything is really enforced but it has to be because these bugs drive people crazy, everyone seems to get lobster fever.”

While we recognize the event is ultimately about the opportunity to catch some Panulirus Argus, the gravity of following the rules cannot be overlooked. Despite there being a wide range of opinion

regarding the mini lobster season, there will still be a lot of people out for the experience. Everyone agrees the success of the year is determined by the ability of divers to make sure they know what the rules are while maintaining a strong focus on preserving the natural environment and making sure they know their own limitations as a diver.

Where and when you can pick up your haul of critters is just as important as how you catch them. There are some prohibited areas for various reasons. The no-take areas are marked by 30” diameter round, yellow boundary buoys. There are many regulations and a lot of them vary depending

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15

southeast dive destiNatioN Lobster miNi seasoN

We support our LoCaL dive shops - Without them We WiLL Not have a dive iNdustrY.

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Nothing “mini” about this lobster. Photo by Dolphin Sun Dive Charters.

on where you go so research is vital and reading through the regulations for your area is important. Some of the state parks are closed for the two-day hunt. Gash goes on to explain that enforcement isn’t just on the shoulders of state or federal agencies. “They do beef enforcement up for mini-season, and we self-police on the boat.”

We strongly encourage our readers to do their research before participating. For a full list of regulations on where and when you can dive please visit floridakeys.noaa.gov/ or contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (888) 404-3922.

“We aren’t just talking about following the law.” Skip Commagere of Force-E in Boca Raton, Florida says the regulations are necessary. “People come out of the woodwork to do this mini-season,” Commagere said. “There are safety concerns. Typically, people who have boats have someone come along who was certified once and haven’t been diving for a long time and they just dive-in without checking their gear or getting a refresher course.” However, we aren’t just worried about best-practice diving, some hunters will actually extend themselves past their individual abilities. “People tend to take chances, like going out and trying to find lobster at 12:01 a.m. when the day begins.

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A lot of them have never done a night dive before but they don’t care, all they see is the chance to get lobster. They don’t take into consideration current or any of the other issues that come up in a night dive,” said Commagere.

We are going to get serious here for a moment, and tell you readers that a Lobster is not worth losing your life over. The experience and thrill of the hunt is worth-while, and we strongly encourage you to participate, but please partake within the rules. There have been fatalities, and they have happened often. Generally, the deaths

occur because a lobster hunter did not follow rules or know their own limits. We value your life, please do not lose the chance at future dives for a quick thrill today!

There are environmental concerns as well. Gash says her dive shop sees a

boost in business during this annual event and their shop recommends the reef as a good place to hunt lobster, but only if you remember the reef is also a living organism. “The reef sits at different depths, in different areas so divers can dive where they are comfortable. Outside of Boynton the main reef is 50-60 ft. of water and that’s where we take people. You have to be mindful of the environment though and make sure you don’t damage the reef.” Gash encourages a refresher course for anyone who hasn’t been diving in a while. “You have to watch your buoyancy and stay off the reef,” Gash says. “You don’t want to break up the reef when you are chasing the bugs.” The coral needs to be protected from damage and removal in state and federal waters. Divers are not supposed to touch, hold on to, stand on, break or otherwise harm the coral. Because there have been so many issues over the years having to do with the protection of the corals and reefs, the state and local divers are requesting lobster divers be more careful each year.

DJ Wood from Rainbow Reef Dive Center feels very strongly about the potential damage to the environment the mini lobster event can cause. “I got into the water and saw what divers were doing in order to catch the lobster and there is more damage

Giant lobster at the Rain Barrel Artist Village, Islamorada, FL. Photo by www.tropicalzensation.com.

17this pubLiCatioN supports the southeast dive CommuNitY

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done in that two-day event to the reefs than there is during the entire rest of the year.” Wood tells participants to learn how to catch a lobster while protecting the environment. “You have to understand what you are doing in order to do minimal damage.”

Because of the concerns, some of the dive shops in Florida do not support the event. However, we recognize the hunt as part of the culture of the sunshine state. This is a long standing tradition, a well attended and highly publicized part of visiting and diving in Florida. We have to acknowledge the enthusiasm and the buoyancy – pun intended – of the event, while remembering

to follow the rules. Almost every dive shop offers refresher courses, and we strongly encourage divers to take a moment to review their skills. And of course dive safely, which is always our goal anyway. But most of all, HAVE FUN! ■

Dive Shops Mentioned:Boynton Beachwww.boyntonbeachdivecenter.comForce-E Scubawww.force-e.comRainbow Reefwww.rainbowreef.us

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18 We support the southeast dive CommuNitY

bahamas tropiCaL destiNatioN

Eleuthera Bahamas

Author

John Christopher Fine.

Diving off The beaTen PaTh

John with Caribbean Shark.Photos by John Christopher Fine.

By John Christopher FineGuest Writer, Dive News Network

I’d take a fast boat and head out of Governor’s Harbor on Eleuthera.

Something over an hour later the azure and turquoise would give way to blue; a deep, dark blue. The water would be so clear you could see bottom…if there was a bottom. That isn’t likely since the Tongue of the Ocean comes in here and the depth is over 2000 ft. When the meridian is crossed and the ocean’s bright blue beckons, I’d throttle back, swing the boat around, look for a good spot in the sand beyond the drop off and anchor. The first thing I’d do, once over side, was check the anchor; leaving a boat unattended many miles from shore, it would not do to have it drift away. It wouldn’t take much of a swim to the edge; like looking over a sheer mountain precipice from a depth of fifteen ft. into untold depths of crystal clear blue. There is amazing diving in the Bahamas, wonderful people and natural beauty. You just have to find it, like I have.

The key to ultimate Bahamas diving is to stay away from the well traveled destinations like Freeport and Nassau. Cruise ships and casinos bring in millions of people and the reefs have been long ago fished out. The Bahamas “out islands” are more laid back, the people genteel with manners learned at home, the waters less bothered. Good, kind people live everywhere of course, but on the out islands life is simpler, people live traditional lives centered on family and church, greetings are given and returned, kindness and honesty are virtues. Eleuthera is just such a place.

Eleuthera is a long banana shaped island 50 miles east of Nassau, south of the Abacos and northwest of Cat Island. If you took a ruler and drew a line straight east from Miami you’d hit it. Northeast Providence Channel separates Eleuthera from Great Abaco. Exuma Sound touches its western shores. Named for Puritans who arrived from Bermuda in 1648, the name comes from the Greek ‘eleutheros.’ Translated

it means free; a sanctuary to these early English Protestants that farmed and fished here. Today, the US Navy maintains a testing and tracking facility on Eleuthera but for the most part, the island still belongs to the locals. It is 110 miles long and about a mile wide in some places making up 200 sq. miles.

There are blue holes, timed right, to discover. The current is strong and it wouldn’t do to get sucked deep into a cave network, mostly unexplored, off a deep blue hole. Spiny lobsters ring the inside shelves above the siphons. Nurse sharks stand guard at the entrances to the caves as the flow of

water pumps over their gills. Divers can approach the sleeping sharks easily to pose for pictures.

When the current is pushing out, penetrations with an experienced guide are possible but remember, these caves are merciless and have not been explored to any great extent. There are no gates and no signs to warn divers of the dangers. For some divers it is enough to look inside the larger caves, shine dive lights around the walls and visit shrimp and sweepers. It is often smart to stay out of small caves; that kind of penetration is best left to experts trained, equipped and certified for cave diving.

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Lima Clam.Photo by John Christopher Fine.

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Diver in silhouette with sun burst. Photo by John Christopher Fine.

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21Northeast & Midwest Dive News JANUARY 2011 www.mwdivenews.com 21LoCaL divers doN’t Just dive LoCaLLY - theY dive gLobaLLY!

bahamas gear boXExuma Sound diving off Eleuthera’s

west side is exciting. All manner of sharks prowl these waters too and almost every large creature lives here, from turtles to big pelagic sailfish. My very first dive was an introduction to big stuff in the ocean. I couldn’t figure out what the huge, dark object was. As it approached I saw it was a Goliath grouper. It was hanging upside down against a sheer wall; very dark brown, disguised against the wall. This was the fish that swallowed Jonah and now, it seemed to be waiting for me. It made for an exciting experience.

There is no back scatter here from an underwater camera’s electronic flash. The water is crystal clear, most of the time, making for some incredible photos. An electronic flash will bring out the colors of the amazing reef fish and make the most inexperienced underwater photographer seem like an expert.

The eastern side of Eleuthera is more problematic for diving but there are wonderful bays and romantic beaches that seem to stretch forever with white coral sand soft underfoot. Expatriate Americans and some Brits have homes on the water but they are few and scattered so the enchantment of the long beaches is mostly uninterrupted. There are no condos, no “No Trespassing” signs, no walls with barbed wire and broken

glass; just open inviting sand. There is some amazing diving along walls that surround rocky shores, however, if you are adventurous. It requires looking very close to see small critters in their habitat though. Anemones with cleaner shrimp, crabs with various disguises, tropical fish in juvenile stages; shore diving is a macro-world offering opportunities for photography.

North of Eleuthera is Current Island. A cut through the reef, aptly called Current Cut, is a drift dive that can be exciting. Guides drop their divers out beyond the cut at the right tide change moment with cameras and gear secured so as not to lose anything. The current can rip through the narrow passage at 5 knots and more. Be ready to snap pictures on the fly because there is no way to stop. Rays of all kinds, sharks and game fish ply the current and it’s like everybody’s taking the subway during rush hour; a fast expressway.

On Eleuthera a diving holiday is just that, with diving walls offshore requiring adequate surface intervals and easy to forget depths where at 250 ft. it is still bright and beautiful. There is so much light penetration with a bright sun above, it is easy to forget and dive deeper than planned. Large stands of black coral stick out from walls. Harvested commercially and even illegally in many places in the Bahamas for jewelry

making and carving, black coral is relatively rare to see, especially with branches as thick around as your wrist, but in Eleuthera black coral abounds.

Winter temps can be in the low 70’s warming to the 80’s in summer. Expect tropical sunshine every day with occasional squalls and afternoon rain showers. Relax on the beach between dives and plan an excursion to the settlement at Spanish Wells where it is rumored descendants of privateers settled with their families in the early days.

No matter what level of diving you are at, Eleuthera holds an adventure for you. Black coral, incredible wall dives and crystal clear waters…what more could a diver ask for. ■

ABOuT THE AuTHOR John Christopher Fine is a marine biologist and expert in marine and maritime affairs. He is a Master Scuba Instructor and Instructor Trainer. The author of 24 books, his articles and photography appear in newspapers and magazines all over the world.

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www.nedivenews.com22 Northeast Dive News JANUARY 2008

An alphabetical listing of participating dive shops, charters, live aboards and resorts in tropical locations around the world. TROPICAL DIVE DIRECTORY

St. Croix (U.S. Virgin iSlandS)

Cane Bay Dive Shop 340.773.9913 www.canebayscuba.com

BaHaMaS

CoZUMEl

BonairE

BEliZE

roatan (Cont.)GoRoatan.com 888.405.8737 www.goroatan.com

Lalati 877.750.0233 www.lalatifiji.com

Dancer Fleet 305.669.9391 www.dancerfleet.com

Dolphin Bay Divers Retreat 679.992.4001 dolphinbaydivers.comKoro Sun 970.209.4265 www.korosunresort.com

Qamea Resort & Spa 649.360.0217 www.qamea.com

Wananavu 679.669.4433 www.wananavu.com

Juliet Sailing & Diving 866.558.5438 www.sailjuliet.com

Buddy Dive Resort 599.717.5080.518 www.buddydive.com

Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com

Quest Dive Adventures 770.992.8414 www.questdive.com

Sunset House 800.854.4767 www.sunsethouse.com

Southern Cross Club 800.899.2582 www.southerncrossclub.com

Divetech@Cobal Coast Dive Resort 888.946.5656 divetech.com cobaltcoast.com

CoSta riCaQuest Dive Adventures 770.992.8414 www.questdive.com




PHiliPPinESAtlantis Dive Resort 775.588.0500 www.atlantishotel.com


SEa of CortEZ/SoCorro iSlandS

rEd SEa - EgYPt

Rocio Del Mar 602.558.9580 www.rociodelmarliveaboard.com

galaPagoS

HondUraS

Divencounters Alliance 877.323.DIVE www.divencounters.com

Fly & Sea Dive Adventures 888.995.DIVE(3483) www.redseadiving.ca

Learning Through Travel 516.781.5556 www.learningthroughtravel.com

tUrkS & CaiCoS

Calypso Beach Retreat 303.264.8333 www.calypsobeachretreat.com

fiJiBeqa Lagoon Resort 800.542.3454 www.beqalagoonresort.com


Kungkungan Bay Resort & Spa 530.347.2300 www.divekbr.com

indonESiaDeep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com

Divi Resorts 954.545.0269 www.diviresorts.com

Abyss Dive Center 52.984.873.2164 www.abyssdivecenter.com

MExiCo

Aquanauts Dive Adv. 998.206.9365 www.aquanautsdiveadventures.com

CUraCaoOcean Encounters 800.932.6237 www.oceanencounters.com

BVI Scuba 284.540.2222 www.bviscubaco.com

Jost Van Dyke 800.778.8066www.jostvandyke.com

Sea Robin 951.824.9073 www.searobincozumel.com

Island DreamsTravel 800.346.6116 www.divetrip.com

Dive Provo 649.946.5040 www.diveprovo.com

Oasis Divers 649.946.1128 www.oasisdivers.com

Sun Breeze Hotel 1.800.688.0191 www.sunbreeze.net Utila Tours 800.668.8452

337.893.0013 www.utila.com

Pindito Liveaboard 831.818.8594 www.pindito.com

St. kittSDive St. Kitts 869.564.8914 www.divestkitts.com

Albatros Charters 888.333.4643 www.cozumel-fishing.com

BlueBubbleScuba 987.872.4240 www.bluebubble.com Lembeh Hills Resort www.LembehHills.com

62.812.441.18.000

Hugh Parkeys 888.223.5403 www.belizediving.com

CaYMan iSlandS

To be listed in our Tropical Dive Directory call 360.240.1874 or email us at [email protected] DIVE DIRECTORY

Island DreamsTravel 800.346.6116 www.divetrip.comIsland DreamsTravel 800.346.6116

www.divetrip.com

Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com Red Mangrove 00593.2.3823801/3823941

www.redmangrove.com

CoZUMEl (Cont.)

St. VinCEntBequia Dive Adventures 784.458.3826 www.bequiadiveadventures.com

indonESia (Cont.)

Worldwide Dive and Sail 866.258.6398 www.worldwidediveandsail.com

Tasik Ria Resort Spa & Diving 62.431 -.824.445 www.tasikria.com

Blue Ocean Marine Pty.Ltd. 415.830.3846 www.abyssworld.com

Deep Blue Resort 011.504.95.76.36.97 www.deepblueutila.com

Villa Makoshi Lower Level 780.483.0044 www.BonaireDiveVilla.com

Scuba Du 310.684.5556 www.scubadu.com

BritiSH Virgin iSlandNV Yacht Charters 443.829.8576 www.nvcharters.com

Caribbean Dive Shop 504.831.7017 www.caribbeandiveshop.com

roatanCoCo View Resort Roatan 800.282.8932 www.roatan.com

22 We support our LoCaL dive shop - Without them We WiLL Not have a dive iNdustrY.

tropiCaL dive direCtorY dive direCtorY

SOU

THEA

ST

SOU

THEA

ST ALABAMA

Adventure Sport, Inc. Auburn (334) 887-8005 Store

Southern Skin Divers Supply Birmingham (205) 595-3052 Store

Down Under Dive Shop Gulf Shores (251) 968-3483 Store

Gary's Gulf Divers Orange Beach (251) 747-6563 Charter

Dive Alabama Pelham (205) 663-7428 Store/Charter

FLORIDA

Force-E Scuba Boca Raton (561) 368-0555 Store

Boynton Beach Dive Center Boynton Beach (561) 732 8590 Store/Charter

Dolphin Sun Dive Charters Boynton Beach (561) 886-8925 Charter

Tanks-A-Lot Dive Charters Clearwater (727) 798-1269 Charter

Grove Scuba Coconut Grove (305) 443-1313 Store/Charter

Crystal River Water Sports Crystal River (352) 795-7033 Charter

Scuba Network Deerfield Beach (954) 422-9982 Store

The Scuba Center Delray Beach (561) 278-7020 Store

Ocean Sports of North Pinellas Dunedin (727) 733-1919 Store

Divers Discount Fort Lauderdale (800) 752-6386 Store

Lauderdale Diver Fort Lauderdale (800) 654-2073 Store

Scuba Network Fort Lauderdale (954) 491-7793 Store

Sea Experience Fort Lauderdale (954) 770-3483 Store/Charter

Captain Pete's Diving Outfitters Fort Myers (239) 337-9564 Store/Charter

Dr Dive Gulf Breeze (617) 943 5553 Charter

Atlantic Scuba, Inc. Holly Hill (386) 253-7558 Store

Blue Iguana Charters Key Largo (561) 797-2540 Charter

Captain Slate's Atlantis Dive Center Key Largo www. captainslate.com Store

Horizon Divers Key Largo (800) 984-3483 Charter

Captain's Corner Dive Center Key West (305) 296-8865 Store

Southpoint Divers Key West (800) 891-3483 Charter

Cave Excursions Live Oak (386) 776-2299 Charter

Dive Outpost Live Oak (386) 776-1449 Charter

Southernmost Diving Big Pine (305) 974-DIVE Charter

Abyss Dive Center Marathon (800) 457-0134 Store/Charter

Diver's Den Miami Miami (305) 595-2010 Store/Charter

Scubadventures Naples (239) 434-7477 Charter

Ocala Dive Center Ocala (352) 732-9779 Store

Scuba Extreme Adv.Sports & Travel Orange Park (904) 269-8021 Store

The Dive Station Orlando (407) 843-3483 Store

Dive Locker Panama City Beach (850) 230-8006 Store/Charter

Dive Pros Pensecola (866) 348-3776 Store

Scuba Shack/Wet Dreams Charters Pensecola (850) 433-4319 Store/Charter

Viking Diving Pensacola (850) 916-3483 Charter

Force-E Scuba Pompano Beach (954) 943-3483 Charter

Scuba Network Pompano Beach (954) 785-0399 Store

Force-E Scuba Riviera Beach (561) 845-2333 Charter

Conch Republic Divers Tavernier (800) 274-3483 Store/Charter

Narcosis Scuba Center Tarpon Springs (727) 934-6474 Store/Charter

Megalodon Charters Venice (941) 483-3483 Charter

Blue Grotto Williston (352) 528-5770 Store/Diving

Northeast Dive News JANUARY 2008 www.nedivenews.com 23

dive direCtorY tropiCaL dive direCtorY

An alphabetical listing of participating dive shops, charters, live aboards and resorts in tropical locations around the world. TROPICAL DIVE DIRECTORY

St. Croix (U.S. Virgin iSlandS)

Cane Bay Dive Shop 340.773.9913 www.canebayscuba.com

BaHaMaS

CoZUMEl

BonairE

BEliZE

roatan (Cont.)GoRoatan.com 888.405.8737 www.goroatan.com

Lalati 877.750.0233 www.lalatifiji.com

Dancer Fleet 305.669.9391 www.dancerfleet.com

Dolphin Bay Divers Retreat 679.992.4001 dolphinbaydivers.comKoro Sun 970.209.4265 www.korosunresort.com

Qamea Resort & Spa 649.360.0217 www.qamea.com

Wananavu 679.669.4433 www.wananavu.com

Juliet Sailing & Diving 866.558.5438 www.sailjuliet.com

Buddy Dive Resort 599.717.5080.518 www.buddydive.com



Sunset House 800.854.4767 www.sunsethouse.com

Southern Cross Club 800.899.2582 www.southerncrossclub.com

Divetech@Cobal Coast Dive Resort 888.946.5656 divetech.com cobaltcoast.com

CoSta riCaQuest Dive Adventures 770.992.8414 www.questdive.com




PHiliPPinESAtlantis Dive Resort 775.588.0500 www.atlantishotel.com


SEa of CortEZ/SoCorro iSlandS

rEd SEa - EgYPt

Rocio Del Mar 602.558.9580 www.rociodelmarliveaboard.com

galaPagoS

HondUraS

Divencounters Alliance 877.323.DIVE www.divencounters.com

Fly & Sea Dive Adventures 888.995.DIVE(3483) www.redseadiving.ca

Learning Through Travel 516.781.5556 www.learningthroughtravel.com

tUrkS & CaiCoS

Calypso Beach Retreat 303.264.8333 www.calypsobeachretreat.com

fiJiBeqa Lagoon Resort 800.542.3454 www.beqalagoonresort.com


Kungkungan Bay Resort & Spa 530.347.2300 www.divekbr.com

indonESiaDeep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com

Divi Resorts 954.545.0269 www.diviresorts.com

Abyss Dive Center 52.984.873.2164 www.abyssdivecenter.com

MExiCo

Aquanauts Dive Adv. 998.206.9365 www.aquanautsdiveadventures.com

CUraCaoOcean Encounters 800.932.6237 www.oceanencounters.com

BVI Scuba 284.540.2222 www.bviscubaco.com

Jost Van Dyke 800.778.8066www.jostvandyke.com

Sea Robin 951.824.9073 www.searobincozumel.com

Island DreamsTravel 800.346.6116 www.divetrip.com

Dive Provo 649.946.5040 www.diveprovo.com

Oasis Divers 649.946.1128 www.oasisdivers.com

Sun Breeze Hotel 1.800.688.0191 www.sunbreeze.net Utila Tours 800.668.8452

337.893.0013 www.utila.com

Pindito Liveaboard 831.818.8594 www.pindito.com

St. kittSDive St. Kitts 869.564.8914 www.divestkitts.com

Albatros Charters 888.333.4643 www.cozumel-fishing.com

BlueBubbleScuba 987.872.4240 www.bluebubble.com Lembeh Hills Resort www.LembehHills.com

62.812.441.18.000

Hugh Parkeys 888.223.5403 www.belizediving.com

CaYMan iSlandS

To be listed in our Tropical Dive Directory call 360.240.1874 or email us at [email protected] DIVE DIRECTORY

Island DreamsTravel 800.346.6116 www.divetrip.comIsland DreamsTravel 800.346.6116

www.divetrip.com

Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com Red Mangrove 00593.2.3823801/3823941

www.redmangrove.com

CoZUMEl (Cont.)

St. VinCEntBequia Dive Adventures 784.458.3826 www.bequiadiveadventures.com

indonESia (Cont.)

Worldwide Dive and Sail 866.258.6398 www.worldwidediveandsail.com

Tasik Ria Resort Spa & Diving 62.431 -.824.445 www.tasikria.com

Blue Ocean Marine Pty.Ltd. 415.830.3846 www.abyssworld.com

Deep Blue Resort 011.504.95.76.36.97 www.deepblueutila.com

Villa Makoshi Lower Level 780.483.0044 www.BonaireDiveVilla.com

Scuba Du 310.684.5556 www.scubadu.com

BritiSH Virgin iSlandNV Yacht Charters 443.829.8576 www.nvcharters.com

Caribbean Dive Shop 504.831.7017 www.caribbeandiveshop.com

roatanCoCo View Resort Roatan 800.282.8932 www.roatan.com

23WaNt to support LoCaL diviNg iN Your part of the gLobe? emaiL [email protected]!

SOU

THEA

ST

SOU

THEA

STTo be listed in our

Dive Dive Directory call (360) 240-1874 or email us at [email protected]

ALABAMA

Adventure Sport, Inc. Auburn (334) 887-8005 Store

Southern Skin Divers Supply Birmingham (205) 595-3052 Store

Down Under Dive Shop Gulf Shores (251) 968-3483 Store

Gary's Gulf Divers Orange Beach (251) 747-6563 Charter

Dive Alabama Pelham (205) 663-7428 Store/Charter

FLORIDA

Force-E Scuba Boca Raton (561) 368-0555 Store

Boynton Beach Dive Center Boynton Beach (561) 732 8590 Store/Charter

Dolphin Sun Dive Charters Boynton Beach (561) 886-8925 Charter

Tanks-A-Lot Dive Charters Clearwater (727) 798-1269 Charter

Grove Scuba Coconut Grove (305) 443-1313 Store/Charter

Crystal River Water Sports Crystal River (352) 795-7033 Charter

Scuba Network Deerfield Beach (954) 422-9982 Store

The Scuba Center Delray Beach (561) 278-7020 Store

Ocean Sports of North Pinellas Dunedin (727) 733-1919 Store

Divers Discount Fort Lauderdale (800) 752-6386 Store

Lauderdale Diver Fort Lauderdale (800) 654-2073 Store

Scuba Network Fort Lauderdale (954) 491-7793 Store

Sea Experience Fort Lauderdale (954) 770-3483 Store/Charter

Captain Pete's Diving Outfitters Fort Myers (239) 337-9564 Store/Charter

Dr Dive Gulf Breeze (617) 943 5553 Charter

Atlantic Scuba, Inc. Holly Hill (386) 253-7558 Store

Blue Iguana Charters Key Largo (561) 797-2540 Charter

Captain Slate's Atlantis Dive Center Key Largo www. captainslate.com Store

Horizon Divers Key Largo (800) 984-3483 Charter

Captain's Corner Dive Center Key West (305) 296-8865 Store

Southpoint Divers Key West (800) 891-3483 Charter

Cave Excursions Live Oak (386) 776-2299 Charter

Dive Outpost Live Oak (386) 776-1449 Charter

Southernmost Divers Long Key (305) 974-3483 Charter

Abyss Dive Center Marathon (800) 457-0134 Store/Charter

Diver's Den Miami Miami (305) 595-2010 Store/Charter

Scubadventures Naples (239) 434-7477 Charter

Ocala Dive Center Ocala (352) 732-9779 Store

Scuba Extreme Adv.Sports & Travel Orange Park (904) 269-8021 Store

The Dive Station Orlando (407) 843-3483 Store

Dive Locker Panama City Beach (850) 230-8006 Store/Charter

Dive Pros Pensecola (866) 348-3776 Store

Scuba Shack/Wet Dreams Charters Pensecola (850) 433-4319 Store/Charter

Viking Diving Pensacola (850) 916-3483 Charter

Force-E Scuba Pompano Beach (954) 943-3483 Charter

Scuba Network Pompano Beach (954) 785-0399 Store

Force-E Scuba Riviera Beach (561) 845-2333 Charter

Conch Republic Divers Tavernier (800) 274-3483 Store/Charter

Narcosis Scuba Center Tarpon Springs (727) 934-6474 Store/Charter

Megalodon Charters Venice (941) 483-3483 Charter

Blue Grotto Williston (352) 528-5770 Store/Diving

GEORGIA

The Dive Shop on McEver Gainesville (770) 503-0040 Store

Dive Dive Dive, Inc. Lawrenceville (678) 407-2442 Store

The Dive Shop Marietta (770) 973-7909 Store

Wet Scuba & Travel Stockbridge (770) 389-9949 Store

Diver's Den Georgia Saint Marys (912) 882-7078 Store/Charter

South Georgia Dive Charters Saint Marys (912) 882-7078 Store/Charter

LOUISIANA

Underwater Adventures Baton Rouge (225) 927-3483 Store/Charter

Mike's Dive Center Lake Charles (337) 430-0073 Store

True Blue Watersports Lake Charles (337) 310-1681 Store

Harry's Dive Shop Metairie (504) 888-4882 Store/Charter

Scuba Ventures Shreveport (318) 222-3483 Charter

Coral Reef Dive Shop Slidell (985) 641-9888 Store/Charter

MARYLAND

Columbia Scuba, Inc. Columbia (410) 381-1994 Store/Charter

MISSISSIPPI

The Dive Shop Llc d'Iberville (228) 392-7830 Store/Charter

NORTH CAROLINA

Black Jack Tech Diving Aberdeen (910) 426-3483 Store

Atlantis Charters Atlantic Beach www.atlantischarters.net 6pack Charter

Discovery Diving Co. Beaufort (252) 728-2265 Store/Charter

Poseydon Dive Center Beaufort (252) 504-3483 Store/Charter

Cape Fear Dive Center Carolina Beach (910) 458-7390 Store/Charter

Seahorse Charters Ernul (252) 617-2641 Charter

Dive Hatteras Frisco (703) 818-1850 Charter

Outer Banks Diving Hatteras (252) 986-1056 Charter

Diver Style Scuba Monroe (704) 289-2089 Store

Olympus Dive Center Morehead City (252) 726-9432 Store/Charter

Divin' Dawgs New Bern (252) 638-3432 Store

Ghost Fleet Dive Charters Wanchese (252) 491-8475 Store/Charter

Rum Runner Dive Shop Winterville (252) 439-4390 Store/Charter

SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston Scuba Charleston (843) 763-3483 Store/Charter

Low Country Scuba Mount Pleasant (843) 884-1500 Store/Charter

Coastal Scuba N. Myrtle Beach (800) 249-9388 Charter

Off The Wall Charters, Inc. Salem (864) 944-9255 Charter

VIRGINIA

Adventure Scuba Company Chantilly (703) 263-0427 Store

www.nedivenews.com24 Northeast Dive News JANUARY 2008

Please Don’t subscribe!

We want you to get our magazine Free!Just go to your local dive store and pick up a complimentary copy.

our mission is: bringing the local dive shop more customers and helping you be more active in the sport.

of course—if you want a printed edition mailed to your home

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july 2011 vol 1. issue 7

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