DAN announces DES Quest III!

From DAN website Today...
Source: Divers Alert Network


Divers Alert Network, DAN, announced the DES Quest III earlier this month.

This "Quest" celebrates its third year and challenges all divers out there to gain knowledge of Dive Safety and achieve the Diving Emergency Specialist recognition. For those divers who qualify and are recognized as a Diving Emergency Specialist will receive special DES Quest T-Shirt, Ballcap, Patch etc. and the name probably will be published in Alert Diver, the DAN Membership magazine, for anyone obtaining this recognition between June 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008.

To qualify as DES, you must complete 4 different modules that DAN Training offers and one of which must be DAN O2 or equivalent and a Rescue Diver.

For more information on DES Quest III, visit: DAN DES Quest III Announcement

If you are looking for DAN courses, check out: Groupers' Calendar

If you are looking to become DAN member or renew your membership: Click Here

So... why not be a DES this year, impress your dive buddies and show them you care!!

Expedition Fleet Liveaboards - Show Specials

Introducing our show specials for:

Beneath The Sea - 2008
New Jersey - March 28, 29 & 30
Booth# 710

Valid for new bookings only
Show specials will be available until
April 15 2008

Please see below for our contact information and specials
(if pictures do not show on this email, please check your attachments)

Expedition Fleet Liveaboards

Chuuk / Truk Lagoon
Pacific Explorer II
$2450
Sunday to Sunday
Included - Nitrox & Alcohol during meals
Special - $150 Gift Certificate (usable onboard)
Excludes- Fuel $100 and Dive Permit $30

Palau
Big Blue Explorer
Starrting $2149
Saturday to Saturday
Special - Nitrox or $150 Gift Certificate (usable onboard)
Excluded- Fuel $100 and Dive Permit $55

Philippines - Tubbataha
Oceanic Explorer
March to June
5 nights 4 diving days or 7 nights 6 diving days.
We can plan special trips for your groups such as:
Custom schedules and land tour and resort combinations

Philippines - Visayas (Cebu, Dumaguete, Bohol area)
Borneo Explorer
July to February
7 nights and 6 diving days
We can plan special trips for your groups such as:
Custom schedules and land tour and resort combinations

Philippines - Apo Reef & Coron
Stella Maris Explorer
July to February
7 nights and 6 diving days

Philippines - DumagueteBahura Resort & Spa

Please visit our website at
www.islandcruiseadventure.com
for schedules, pictures, boat layouts and more

Check Out

Check me out on the latest DAN Alert Diver Magazine, page 13! Yay!

Evening with Stan Waterman by SISD!

From My Hand-Outs Today...
Source: Staten Island Sport Divers, Inc.

I received a Handout today from Staten Island Sport Divers in regards to their latest event, An Evening with Stand Waterman - The Man who Loved Sharks.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the Shark Research Institute, the leading Shark Research Institution in the US.

The information is below:

Date: Wed-day, Nov. 7, 2007
Time: 6pm to 9pm
Location: Staten Island University Hospital, Ambulatory Care Pavilion, The Great Room, 2F
Address:
242 Manson Ave.
Staten Island, NY 10305

$10 for SISD Members
$20 for non-SISD Members

For information, call Steve Lombardo: 718-702-8623

Sponsored by The Staten Island Sport Divers, Inc.

SHARKWATER MOVIE HITTING US THEATRE THIS FALL!

From My MySpace Bulletin Today:
Source: Sharkwater Team on MySpace

Received the Bulletin today from Sharkwater Team that the movie, Sharkwater - the winner of 21 different international film awards, will be hitting the U.S. Theatre this fall!!! (Actually Nov. 2nd to be exact, according to their MySpace page...) This movie was once previwed in New York City earlier this year, hosted by Oceanwater Divers, which is the largiest SCUBA Dive Club in New York City. Tickets were gone way before this Meet-Up!

Sharkwater Team recently posted a new movie trailer along with a short movie of the make of Sharkwater. Those movies can be viewed at: http://www.myspace.com/sharkwater

Or check out their website: http://www.sharkwater.com

DAN EIT Award 2007

(From My Inbox... um the other day)
Source: DAN, Dive News Wire, and Me

Most of you may be aware - I'm not rubbing this on to you, but had to post this here - that I, Kei, have received the DAN Excellence in Training award for the year of 2007.

This award is usually given 1 DAN Instructor Trainer or Instructor per year, and this is their 4th year providing this honor. This year, the award went double - one went to Valerie Lyttle, also a first-year DAN instructor from Washington State, and the other came to me.

The press release was published through Dive News Wire on August 7, 2007, and the announcement was sent out to people in my Little Black Diver Book. This is not confirmed yet, but the article may be published in the Alert Diver magazine, which is DAN's quarterly membership magazine. I also heard back from SSI, SCUBA Schools International, earlier yesterday afternoon (where my original instructor certification is from!) that the article may be in DBI, which is SSI's Dive Leader magazine.

It has been quite an honor to receive this award, and I'd like to thank all of you for being there for me. I definitely could not have done it without you.

Check Out: DAN Instructors Excel press release from Dive News Wire

If you would like to know more about my DAN courses, FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL me from HERE.

PS> The same article was also posted on DiverWire.com - Click HERE

Big Thanks to Hammerhead Press

Announcement

Last week, Groupers' website has been linked to Hammerhead Press, the publisher of high quality SCUBA Diving books and DVDs. As a thanks, the owners, Kristine and Steve Barsky has sent us the DVD, Florida Springs - the Unexplored Florida.

It was excellent. May be we'll have a movie get-together and view it altogether!

Also, you may want to check out their latest release, Choosing and Using Dive Computers. As the technology advances every minute of the day, selecting the right dive computer that fits your needs plays significant role in your diving experience. This DVD explains them all - from what to look for, and how to select etc. It is a great DVD to watch.

For more information on Hammerhead Press and their latest releases, please visit Hammerheadpress.com.

RECALL: Innovative Scuba Concepts Recalls Diving Regulator Components

(From My Inbox Today...)
Source: Consumer Product Safety Comission

This recall applies to After-Market 2nd stage regulator swivel.

For more information on this recall, READ below or visit: CPSC Recall Announcement
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2007 Release #07-200

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 472-2740 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Innovative Scuba Concepts Recalls Diving Regulator Components Due to Drowning Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Swivel for a Scuba Regulator

Units: About 170

Importer: Innovative Scuba Concepts Inc., of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Hazard: The swivel, which is attached to a diving regulator, could separate while diving. This will result in a complete and sudden loss of the diver’s air supply, causing the diver to engage in emergency ascent procedures. This poses a risk of decompression sickness due to rapid ascent, and air embolism or drowning if the diver panics or the emergency ascent procedure fails.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report where the swivel separated during a dive and caused the diver to ascend using the buddy breathing technique. No injury was reported.

Description: The recall involves the HO110 Swivels sold as an aftermarket regulator component. There are no markings such as a date or production code embossed on the unit. Contact Innovative Scuba Concepts for information on where the recalled units were sold.

Sold at: Specialty retail dive stores nationwide from January 2006 through March 2007 for about $40. They also could have been installed by a dive shop regulator technician.

Manufactured in: Taiwan

Remedy: Consumers should stop using regulators with the swivel attached and contact the dive store where purchased for a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Innovative Scuba Concepts Inc. at (800) 472-2740 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.innovativescuba.com

Groupers Social Successful

Just for those people who did not make it, the Groupers Social at Palmer's American Grille was successful.

Some arrived early, before the dinner, and some arrived there late, but it was great to see everyone!

Stay tuned for our next Club Socials.

Apex - Important Safety Notice

(From My Inbox Today...)
Source: Apex - Aqualung Company

Apex released the Important Safety Notice on their website, released on May 22, 2007. All divers with Apex Regulators should review this notice.

Visit: Apex - Important Safety Notice - 5/22/2007

Happy Birthday, Suzannah!

Annual BBQ 2005

We wish you a very Happy Birthday to Suzannah!

Happy Birthday, Allie!

Annual BBQ 2005 @ Dutch Springs

We would like to wish Allie a very Happy Birthday today!

HOT - Audition for SCUBA Film

(From My Inbox Today...)
Source: Jim V.

Spyglass Entertainment' s film production "27 Dresses" (starring Katherine Heigl of Grey's Anatomy) seeks male and female SCUBA divers in their 20s & 30s for an upcoming film scene scheduled to be shot next Thursday May 17th in Rhode Island. Interested parties should please email a photo of themselves and their contact info to ldileigh@hotmail. com. All photos will be submitted to the Director for consideration.

If you have any question Newport Diving Center is the point of contact for the scuba divers in this movie.

Scubapro X650 Diving Regulators Recalled for Drowning Hazard

Source: Dive-News

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Scubapro� X650 Second Stage Regulator

Units: About 670

Manufacturer: Scubapro� with global headquarters located in El Cajon, Calif.

Hazard: A manufacturing error could cause the main housing of some regulators to change shape over time, which could cause the cover and diaphragm to become dislodged. If this occurs, air flow will be interrupted and the regulators will no longer function, posing a drowning hazard to users.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description and Models: The recall involves some X650 second stage regulators. All X650 second stage regulators are clearly marked with a blue capital �X� next to the numbers �650� in white. Affected regulators have a visible bump located on the right side of the unit between the letter �C� and where the mouthpiece attaches to the regulator body.

Sold at: Authorized Scubapro� dealers in the U.S. from June 2005 through May 2006 for between $400 and $670

Manufactured In: Genova, Italy

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact Scubapro� to determine if they have an affected second stage regulator. If so, they will receive a free replacement regulator. The company is contacting registered owners of the product directly.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Scubapro� at (800) 808-3948 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit their Web site at www.scubapro.com

Firm’s Media Contact: Cynthia Georgeson at +1(262) 631-6600

100th DAN Provider!

(From My Classroom Today...)
Source: TDC/DAN

You knew something would happen on Friday the 13th - can be good or bad. Well, great news - PLEASE CONGRATULATE KEI ON CERTIFYING 100TH DAN PROVIDER at DEMP (Diving Emergency Management Provider) course held at the shop this evening!

Proud 100th DAN provider was Steve Jones, one of our Instructors in Training, who happened to finish exams faster than others. :) It was around 10:15pm.

To celebrate her 100th DAN provider, there were special Dortoni's cupcakes at the classroom. Please congratulate her next time you see her, but DO NOT GIVE HER ANY MORE CUPCAKES because she already ate 2...

Since her DAN instructor certification for 6 different modules in May of last year, she has trained our staff and divers who committed themselves in Dive Safety Educations, mostly local divers. Past March, at the consumer dive show, Beneath the Sea, she co-taught DAN O2 for SCUBA and AED for SCUBA with Gene Tappen, our previous Health & Safety Instructor, with our certified assistant, Jim Vafeas. The class was 3 spots left to the Full and students were coming from all Tri-State, PA, as far as VA. The workshop was successful.

Last year only, she has certified approximately 60 DAN providers and was awarded the Training Recognition Award from Divers Alert Network. Kei has already fulfilled the requirement for the 2007 TRA also.

Her goal this year to become a DES Instructor - the highest Instructor/Instructor Trainer recognition provided from Divers Alert Network.

For more information on DAN courses, visit: DAN Training and Education website

For more information on Dive Safety courses we offer, not limited to DAN courses, visit: TDConline.com
Check back often - Kei offers variety of Dive Safety courses regularly.

Come and Join us for the Dinner at BTS!

BTS is getting tooooooooo close!

Some of the Groupers' members are getting together for a dinner Saturday evening at Beneath the Sea.
For more information on Beneath the Sea, the biggest dive consumer show in the US, click HERE.

If you'd like to join us for a fun night of diving talks, you're more than welcome to join us.

We're meeting at 5pm at Registration Booth of Exhibition Center. No appointment necessary. Just show up and ask us if we are the Groupers!

Restaurant is currently TBA.

See you all there!

Loving Memory of Joe Rut

It has been a year, and the feeling cannot be replaced. One of our members kindly sent us the photos at our request to keep our memory going. We are sure that he has been watching over us and always will be...