DASA Scuba Camp - June 18th 2009

Our thanks to the folks from DASA (Disabled Athletes Sports
Association) for allowing us the opprtunity to spend the day
introducing their campers to the fun of scuba diving.

Kids spend the week at camp doing all sorts of adventure activities
and sports with Scuba being a popular event.

This is the 4th year we have done this event and is trully a rewarding
day.

New Divers

Diving is a family affair for the Flynn's.

Congratulations to three new divers. Patrick Flynn, Matthew Flynn and Riley Flynn who completed their Open Water and their Advanced Open water over the last three days. Even heavy rains on Monday couldn't stop these guys from completing their dives.

Shown in the picture (L to R) Brian Flynn, Patrick Flynn, Riley Flynn, Kevin Flynn and Matthew Flynn. TGADC Course Director (and proud grandfather) is in front. The picture was taken in a heavy downpour after their navigation dive.

Only 5 more grandsons to go!

Suunto HelO2 Dive Computer Now In Stock

The Suunto HelO2 is the first dive computer from Suunto with full mixed gas capability. It is rated to 120 m/393 ft and incorporates the new Suunto Technical RGBM algorithm. Based on the RGBM algorithm developed by Dr. Bruce Wienke, widely recognized decompression scientist, the Suunto Technical RGMB algorithm extends decompression flexibility into the world of technical diving. The algorithm introduces helium tissue groups in the decompression model to enable trimix diving, as well as diving on air and nitrox.

It allows eight gases to be programmed as primary or secondary gases, and enables oxygen content of 8-100%, and helium content of 0-92%. For the technical diver, the great benefit of the algorithm is that it provides more flexibility and reduces task load when decompressing by removing the need to constantly monitor a slate and watch.

The Suunto technical dive planner is an easy-to-use graphical planner for planning dive profiles, gases, and back-up plans. The intuitive interface enables the diver to try different
variations of depth, time, gases and partial pressures without having to continously recalculate.

The Suunto technical dive planner calculates all changes instantly and presents the results on on easy-to-read graph. When ready, the diver can simply export the planned gases and other dive-critical information from PC to dive computer with the included USB cable – removing the need to copy all the calculations onto a slate. Divers are also provided with gas mixing instructions for their planned dive, which they can print out and give to a dive shop if not mixing themselves.

The Suunto technical dive planner enables divers to plan dive series based on real dive profiles – not planned dive profiles – making the plans for later dives in the series more accurate and realistic. The planner also allows divers to compare the planned dive and the and actual dive, helping them pinpoint future areas of improvement in both planning and diving.

ADVANCED FEATURES :

• 8 gas switching
• Suunto technical RGBM algorithm (including helium tissues)
• Deep stops
• Matrix display
• Dive profile displayed graphically on the screen
• Seamless collaboration with dive planner
• Expanded personal adjustment

Other main features:

• 2 operating modes (Mixed gas, Gauge)
• Complete decompression data
• Suunto tech. Deep stop RGBM
• 42h logbook and profile memory
• Lifetime history memory
• Profile memory bookmark
• Wireless tank pressure
• 300 bar compatible
• PC-interface
• Multi step ascent rate indicator
• Altitude adjustment 0-3000m (0-10000ft)
• Automatic safety stop countdown
• Extended decompression range (ceiling, floor)
• Calendar clock
• Electroluminescent illumination (back light)
• User-replaceable battery
• Depth display range 0-150m (0-450ft)
• Audible alarms
• Max. depth alarm
• Display shield
• User-selectable metric or imperial units

Roatan Honduras Dive Trip - Part Three

Days Five - Seven: Our next 3 days of diving include the wreck of the El Aguila, Canyon Reef and Green Out House Wall on Wednesday, Fish Den, Seaquest Deep, Gibson's Bight and White Hole on Thursday and finishing up on Friday with Hole in the Wall, Peter's Place and Fish Den.

What have we seen this trip? Well beyond the typical reef fish common throughout the caribbean we have been fortunate enough to see large Green Moray Eels, Turtles, Snowflake Morays, Large schools of groupers, Octopus, Scorpionfish, Frogfish and Toadfish.

Despite all the diving we still have found time to enjoy many of the other activities available at AKR. Several people have gone horseback riding, gone to the Dolphin show during the afternoon or have done the Dolphin Experience, kayaking, snorkeling and the Canopy Ride. AKR advertises one of the most diverse offerings of activities and they sure deliver on that.

Mixed in with all the diving and other activities, we have been enjoying a hot breakfast every day as well as a varied menu for lunch and dinner. Needless to say nobody is going home hungry. It's almost 6 PM and happy hour is in full swing at the bar. The music is rolling over the resort and everyone is enjoying their last night on the island before we return to the "real" world tomorrow.

Be sure to take time out of your busy schedules and plan on coming on one of our upcoming trips. We've got Little Cayman in October, Cozumel in January and Fiji next May. Each trip gives you the chance to escape the ordinary and live the good life - at least for a week or so.

We'll see you back in St. Louis!

Roatan Honduras Dive Trip - Part Two

Days Two - Four: We begin our week of diving on Sunday with dives to Pillar Coral, Spooky Channel and White Hole. Like most of the dive sites on the south side of the island, these sites feature a spectacular variety of both hard and soft coral on reefs that slope out from the iron shore to a wall at approximately 100 feet. Cuts in the coral run perpendicular to the shore and provide a myriad of places for larger inhabitants to hide like eels & crabs.

Monday we visit the wreck of the Odyssey, Melissa's Reef and Bill's Place. Tuesdays dives are to West End Wall, Mandy's Eel Garden, Butcher's Place and Green Out House Wall.

In between most dives we return to AKR for a short surface interval as most dive sites are just minutes from the resort. On Tuesday though we do our surface interval between dives West End Wall and Mandy's Eel Garden on the beach at Infinity Bay snorkeling and enjoying the sand. Later that day we have lunch and tourist time at Fins & Flippers, a resort on the north side of the island also owned by AKR that caters to the cruise ship tourist. Snorkeling, sightseeing, swimming and BBQ lunch were enjoyed by everyone.

Joining in with our group are Sherry and Evan, the daughter and grandson of Lynn Rodgers. Sherry, Evan & Kateri are enjoying snorkeling a couple times each day and are seeing all kinds of cool stuff like lobsters, eels and turtles!

More Tomorrow . . .

Roatan Honduras Dive Trip - Part One

Geetings to all our dive buddies from Anthony's Key Resort in beautiful Roatan, Honduras. Despite a 7.1 earthquake just two days prior to our departure everything at the resort and Roatan in general is up and running. Damage was minor and mostly cosmetic in nature. Some areas are having some interruption in water service because of broken water pipes but the resort is in full swing. We left St. Louis at an eye opening 6 AM with 13 of our 16 people in the group including Steve Olfe (the group leader), Terry Flynn, Tom & Kateri Watters, Al & Janet Marks, Duane Pinkley, Lynn Rodgers, Al Elbendary, Bill Cowley, Gloria Kolenc, William Cowley & Jude Davis. Arriving in Atlanta, we picked up two more of the group, Bob & Carolyn Orr. Our last group member, Sherry Schaffer, met us here on the island. We were greeted by a representative from AKR that took care of transporting us and our none to small pile of luggage to the hotel. Following a short orientation and a welcome buffet lunch we settled in for a week of diving, sun and ocean. A small group couldn't wait to get in the water and immediately did their orientation dive and hit the shore dive for a warm up dive. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and then everyone hit the sack early. The early flights and hot weather did everyone in for the first day.





More Tomorrow . . .