Congratulations to our Newest PADI Divemaster

Congratulations to Dr. Al Elbendary, our newest PADI Divemaster. Al started his divemaster course this June and just finished last night! Congratulations Al!

Al is an active dive traveler and is also currently working on his DSAT Tec Diver certification. Be sure to look for Al on one of our upcoming trips or working with one of our classes as an assistant.

Little Cayman Trip Report - Day Seven

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Our last day of diving starts out with the best weather we've had yet. Blue skies with scattered clouds and about 75 degrees. We head around the island for our last two dives on Bloody Bay Wall. Our first stop is Randy's Gazebo. Randy's is world famous and photographs of it appear regularly in dive publications. We drop off the boat and head over the wall. The wall is craggy with lots of small holes and cuts to explore. Covering the reef are millions of tropical fish of every variety. Heading along the wall we reach a natural coral archway which gives the dive site it's name. After exploring the wall for a while we come up onto the reef and watch the divemaster capture the biggest Lion Fish of the week. It's a big one and it's fast but the divemaster is faster. One less pest on the reef.

For our last dive we move just down the reef to Mixing Bowl which is a dive site that straddles the two marine parks on this side of the island - Bloody Bay Marine Park and Jackson Marine Park. Mixing Bowl has elements of both parks - a small mini wall and sandy boulevard on one side and a hardpan shallow section on the other side. Minutes after we drop over the wall we see one...two...three reef sharks cruising in an out of a crevice in the reef. Hanging around for several minutes everyone gets a good view. Following the show we explore the rest of the reef. Huge schools of schoolmaster, yellowtail snapper and other schooling fish are everywhere. The whole reef is like one large aquarium.

We head back to the boat and then the resort. Smiles are on everyone's face. Despite the spotty weather at the beginning of the week it's been a fabulous week. We get back to the resort and it's time to start getting ready to head home. Folks are cleaning their gear, exploring the island and generally relaxing. It's been a great trip and we've all made some great new friends. Tomorrow we head home and back to the real world. Boooooooooooo!

Little Cayman Trip Report - Day Six

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

The weather has finally cleared. Scattered clouds and blue skies greet us and we go to breakfast. Heading out on time as usual at 8:10 we are on our way to Cayman Brac to dive the wreck of the Capt. Keith Tibbets. Originally a Soviet naval frigate given to the Cuban navy, the ship was purchased by the Cayman government and sank in 1996 as a dive site at which time it was named in honor of a local dive operator. Tossed around by a couple of hurricanes over the years, the wreck is now sitting in between 60 and 100 feet of water and is broken in two. The forward half is lying on its port side. The starboard side is sheered away and open for exploration. The forward gun turrent is still in place and makes a great photo op. Swimming along the wreck we reach the center section which is scattered debris including one of the large turbine engines. The aft section is sitting upright and is intact. Several swim throughs allow us to explore different areas incuding one control room with panel labels written in Russian.

We finish our short visit to Cayman Brac and head the 6 miles back to Little Cayman. Our next stop is Marylin's Cut - one of divemaster's favorite. After we enter the water we follow the divemaster on a tour. We drop down in a small hole in the reef and follow her through a long and pretty swimthrough. Exiting out into a large crevice that looks like somebody cut with a jagged knife in to the reef, we swim along the sheer wall. The wall is covered with thousands and thousands of Fairy Baslets. Out of the blue appears an Eagle Ray - a nice addition to an already gorgeous dive.

Our 3rd dive today takes us Great Wall East - and extension of our Great Wall West dive from Tuesday. Our freindly groupers Ralph and Larry. Like underwater puppy dogs, the groupers come looking for attention and even a welcome rub down. Larry and Ralph like to be petted and will follow any obliging diver around. They even appreciate it when you scare up a squirrel fish for them to munch on. After playing with Larry and Ralph we drop over the edge of the wall and cruise, enjoying the vertical and amazing wall. Like Great Wall West, this site has huge sponges and coral trees hanging out in the blue. We return to the top of the wall and spend the rest of the time with our grouper friends - Ralph is in the picture with todays post.

Tomorrow we finish our diving and while we look forward to going home we will miss this place.

Little Cayman Trip Report - Day Five

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Today we wake up to scattered clouds. The forecast is for bad whether but it looks like it might be clearning. Not long goes by before the clouds roll in again and the drizzle starts. Not to be stopped by some rain, we head out for our first dive. Heading around to the north side we encounter strong winds and rough seas. Being safety conscious the boat turns arounds and takes us to two sites on the south side - Black Hole and Richard's Reef. On both dives we enter the water and swim along the top of the wall. As we follow the divemaster each time we drop over the wall and the visibility is over 100' over the wall. The walls slope down to the darkness and are covered with lobsters, large sponges, coral trees and gorgonians. A major difference of the walls here and much of the caribbean is the large number of fish even deeper on the walls. Following the wall for a while we come back over the top of the reef and begin to explore the coral heads. Groupers of all kinds are everywhere and friendly. Schoolmasters, parrotfish, black durgon and squirrelfish fill the reef. The tops of the walls are like fields of grass swaying in the wind - covered in soft corals and sea fans slowly moving back and forth in the gentle surge.

As the day has gone on the weather continues to improve. After another wonderful lunch we board the boat and head out for the 3rd dive of the day. Conditions have improved and we are able to head to the north side and a Bloody Bay Wall site - Coconut Wall. We enter the water and are greeted by huge lobsters strutting around the bottom like they own the reef. Every coral finger has one or two out and about. We spread out and find Spotted Drums. A few lucky people even encounter a Spotted Eagle Ray. We also find a Lion Fish hiding among the reef. With obvious experience, the divemaster catches the pesky fish in a net and takes it up to the boat. Why? Lion Fish are an invasive species without any predators in caribben. Lion Fish are voracious eaters and are destroying local fish populations. The divemasters on the boat euthanize the Lion Fish and return it to the ocean for recycling.

Another day has gone by and the diving continues to be spectacular. The dive operation is well organized and runs a safe and timely operation. The boats are spacious and comfortable. The air fills are good with at least 2800 psi everytime. The rooms are clean, luxurious and comfortable. The air conditioning even works well. As I've said before the restaurant is incredible. Food is varied, delicious and plentiful.

Little Cayman Trip Report - Day Four

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Thunderstorms all night long and this morning have the group worried we are even going to dive today. But just like home, wait a little bit and the weather will change. By the time the boat is ready to depart the clouds have broken up a bit and the ocean has calmed down. Several members of the group have decided to not join us because they are worried about rough seas. Unfortunately they will find out they made a bad choice.

We board teh boat today crewed by what will turn out to be our best dive crew yet - Laura and Sunny. It's an all boy boat crewed by and all girl crew. And we are happy for it. These girls rock. They run a smooth boat, are well organized and as we will find out can pick a great dive site. We head out for Bloody Bay Wall and our first dive site - Lea Lea's Lookout. Lea Lea's is a wall dive. We start out heading along the top of the wall checking out a few sand pits and coral heads. One of the group even finds a lion fish. We drop down into a crevice and follow that out to the wall at 100'. Visibility is easily 150' - 200'. The group is spread out along the wall and we can see from one end to the other. The wall is covered with large sponges, sea fans, gorgonians and full of fish. We reach a large pinacle split away from the wall which is our signal to come back up to the top of wall and begin are trip back to the boat. Large lobster and a few sea turtles greet the group as we explore. Back on the boat the group is in agreement - this is by far the best dive of the trip.

For our second dive we head to Barracuda Bight, another site on Bloody Bay Wall. We drop off the boat and the visibility is still fantastic. Cruising over the hardpan top of the reef we are greeted by large groupers, parrotfish and other reef critters. Dropping over the wall we cruise along and are amazed by the lobster - they're everywhere. Look in a hole and there is probably one or two lobsters staring back at you. We cruise for about 30 minutes and turn around cruising along the top of the reef back to the boat. Not 5 minutes later we find a 5 or 6 foot long nurse sharking hiding under a large coral head being guarded by a huge and photogenic grouper posing for pictures. A few turtles say hi to us on the way as well. Back at the boat the group is jazzed - two fabulous dives - can it get any better than this?

After yet another gourmet lunch (Yep - I'm getting tired of saying that but honestly no one eats this well everyday. No one can go hungry!) we head back out on the boat. Many of the group that bailed out in the morning have rejoined the group and it's good they did. We head to one of the best dives in the world - Great Wall West. If you see an underwater picture of Bloody Ball Wall it's this site. Dropping in the water we are greeted by Ralph the Grouper. Ralph likes attention from divers. He likes to be petted and is happy to sit there and be played with and photographed. Everyone get's plenty of time with Ralph before dropping over the wall. My heart stops when I see the wall. Its completely vertical like the side of a building and plunges to 6000'. Jutting out from the wall are large bundles of sponges 5' - 10' in diameter. Large barrel sponges the size of small cars. At about 100' we see trees of hard coral the size of large oak trees. To be honest this is the most amazing dive I have ever seen in the caribbean. We cruise up and back along the wall for almost an hour. I don't want to leave. For much of the dive we are accompanied by a small turtle that doesn't seem to mind the company. Finally we end this dive of a lifetime and say goodbye to Ralph who is still hanging out by the boat.

We return to the resort with the entire boat in agreement - this is by far the best day of diving yet and for most the best dives they have ever had. Our crew has their work set out for them. Will they be able to out do today? We'll see.

Little Cayman Trip Report - Day Three

Monday, October 19th, 2009

This morning we wake up to a downpour and wind. The water's a little rough but Reef Divers is still planning on going out. After another delicious breakfast we head out to our first dive on Bloody Ball Wall. After a 20 minute ride we arrive at the wall and the weather is not cooperating. From the surface the visibility on the sites look poor. The divemasters check several dive sites before they decide on Jackson's Reef & Wall. We enter the water and find out the vis at Joy's Joy isn't much better. With me on this dive are also several members of the group. We are planning on doing their Deep Adventure Dive for their Advanced Open Water certification. The weather has stirred everything up and in the visibility on top of the wall is 20 - 30 feet. Not what we have hoped for. We head for the wall and as soon as we drop over the edge visibility opens up to about 100 feet. Now that is more like it. The students handily finish off their skills and we head down the wall, enjoying the visibility here. Like the sites from the day before fish life is abundant. The reef looks like many others located all throughout the carribean with one major difference - again, the fish life. More variety and more quantity. We finish off the dive swimming back through the poor visibilty.

In between the first and second boat dives, Reef Divers has dry towels, fruit and snacks on board for our enjoyment. The fresh water rinse is also a bonus. This is first class boat diving. The boat crew moves us around to the other side of the island for our second dive at Gay's Reef. Gay's is a shallow dive - about 50' and is composed of a small "mini wall" and scattered coral heads. We enter the water and are pleased to find that our visibility is much improved over the first dive. With a 60 minute bottom dive we got plenty of time explore all the nooks and crannies of this site. Besides the large number of regular tropical fish we find sea turtles, small eels and even one of the pest predators - a lion fish. We return back to the resort happy and wanting more bottom time.

Following another tasty lunch we head out for our 3rd boat dive to Windsock. Located just down the shore from the hotel, Windsock is a shallow 50' reef comprised of dozens of coral fingers extending out from shore. Our Advanced students spend the first 10 minutes of the dive completing their Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive skills and then scatter to explore this interesting site. Low and flat, this site is full of holes to check out for a wide variety of reef life. Throughout all 3 dives, one of the divemasters is videotaping the group.

We return to the resort satisfied but hoping that condition improve tomorrow. We want to be back on Bloody Bay Wall. Prior to dinner we attend the Manager's Rum Reception and have an opportunity to view the video. It's great and we will be showing it at our upcoming Dive Travel Night. Free Rum Punch and appetizers entertain the group while we hear from each of the department managers about the services offered at the resort. The presentation is finished off with a short magic show and flaming juggling demonstration from the bartender! After the reception we head off to dinner and are dreaming of tomorrows dives.

Little Cayman Trip Report - Day Two

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Our dive group wakens to sun and scattered clouds. It's rained overnight but then it does on most islands at some point. Once again, we eat. This time breakfast served buffet style: eggs, a make to order omlet station, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage, french toast. cereal and more. It's obvious we aren't going to lose any weight on this trip! Prior to breakfast everyone sets their gear outside their rooms. The divemasters collect the gear and stow it away onboard our boat. We won't have to move our BCs and regulators all week as the divemasters will move it from tank to tank after we do the initial setup. At the end of the day all we have to do is take our mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuits off the boat and store them in their gear storage room easily located at the end of the dock.

3 of our people are still waiting for their gear. The dive shop has loaned them gear to use but the divemasters stall waiting for the first plane of the day to arrive. About 8:30 we get word that everyones gear has arrived. The hotel manager makes a special trip to the airport to pick up the gear and within minutes everyone is back on board with their own gear. What service - no one is going ot miss a dive because of Cayman Airways! We depart the dock a few minutes late but with a happy and excited group. We are destined for Bloody Bay Wall.

Our first dive is Cumber's Caves. A giant green moray and grouper greet us as we enter the water. Southern rays float along the sand looking for food and are easy to spot as each one has one or two fish following them looking for easy handouts. Live and large conch are everywhere. Apparently without locals hunting them for food they have become quite common and big. Large schools of tropicals abound everywhere.

Our second dive is Ringer's Reef. A shallower section of Bloody Ball Wall alows us 60 minutes to explore. As we find on all dives, large schools and large quantities of tropicals, large parrot fish and trigger fish everywhere. Burrfish - also called pufferfish and porcupine fish are common as well.

We head back to the resort for lunch. Again buffet style - coldcuts, salad, lasagna and desert. After lunch, part of the group heads out for a 3rd boat dive while the rest of the group relaxes around the resort or starts to explore the island. The resort has bikes for rent, a spa offering massages, a bar to enjoy a drink or two and a nice pool and hot tub to relax in. Our 3rd dive is to Sarahs Set. Another shallower site similar to Ringers. Again - can I keep saying that? - tons of tropics, turtles, rays and large and common parrot fish, trigger fish and burrfish. Overall our first day of diving couldn't have been better. The reefs are pristine. This fish life abundant.

The divemasters are friendly and attentive. Entering the water, all we have to do is walk to the back of the boat. The divemaster brings your tank, helps you into it and you giant stride into the water. Coming out, you have a seat at the back and the divemaster removes your gear, changes your tank and you're ready for the next time.

Another awesome and gourmet dinner finishes off the day. A bunch of the group decompresses in the hot tub and we call it a night ready for the next day in paradise.

Little Cayman Trip Report - Day One

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Our trip starts out with early morning wake up calls as everyone arrives at the airport between 4 am and 4:30 am. After yet another confusing check in process with Delta Airlines we are off to Atlanta. Why do they have to change the process each time? Changing planes in Atlanta we head to Grand Cayman. We've got a 3 hour layover here while everyone scatters in search of food. Finally it's time to head to Little Cayman. Our flight is an adventure of it's own. 16 people cram themselve in an old Dehaviland plane for the 30 minute flight. After we board the pilot informs us that we checked 1080 pounds of luggage and they can only carry 800 pounds and that they'll do their best to get it on the next flight but no guarantees.

Arriving in Little Cayman we arrive at Little Cayman Beach Resort and immediately we are aware that this is no ordinary dive resort. From the imaculate and well appointed lobby to the newly remodeled rooms with time floors, comfortable beds and stone countertops the whole resort is first class. Unfortunately we also find out that 4 of our group has luggage still sitting in Grand Cayman. Our hopes are that it shows up on the next flight in a hour or so. We check in at the dive shop and confirm all is well for our week of diving. The group quickly finds the bar to enjoy it's free welcome drink and begins to socialize. Making new friends and reconnecting with old ones is one of the highlights of any dive trip.

While relaxing we see the next flight takeoff and everyone is eager to see the missing luggage has appeared. Unfortunately not! In a show of fantastic customer service the dive shop has offered everyone rental gear at no charge until their gear shows up. They save the day for those folks missing luggage. The dinner bell sounds (literally) and we dash off to the restaurant and are amazed at the food. Meals are served buffet style and are all you can eat. Tonight we are treated to salad, BBQ ribs, chicken and brisket, corn on the cob, beans, cornbread, 4 different kinds of pies and other side dishes. The restaurant is as nice as any restuarant as home with china service and waiters that are ever present but never in the way. We adjourne from dinner stuffed, happy and ready for bed after a long day of travel.

We are looking forward to our first day of diving on Sunday thinking can it get any better than this?

Venturing Crew 2287 held an Open House and Discover Scuba on Sunday evening, October 11th. We had about 24 participants with many of them experiencing scuba for the first time.

If you are between the ages of 14 and 21 and want to share the fun of diving with coed friends, this is the crew for you! Many thanks to the staff members that made the experience possible: Bill Cowley, Darren Stross, Jack Humes, Dr. Al Elbendary and Rob Harrilson. Contact Terry Flynn or Bill Cowley for more information.

PADI Rescue Diver Class - October 2009

Congratulations to our current PADI Rescue Diver course. Finishing up their class & pool work this week, the class will be moving on to Mermet Springs this weekend to complete their training.

The PADI Rescue Diver course is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable classes you can take and prepares you watch out for yourself, your buddies and to begin your leadership training as a PADI Divemaster.

Ancient Egypt & The Red Sea Dive Adventure Trip

May 16th - 28th, 2011

Ancient Egypt & The Red Sea Dive Adventure Trip

Now taking reservations!

Considered a classic "once in a lifetime" adventure by many, travel with us to exotic Egypt and dive the Red Sea. Explore ancient Egypt and dive the Red Sea on this 2 week adventure which includes:

• 6 days in Egypt - Cairo, Valley of the Kings and Luxor


• 6 days in Sharm El Sheikh diving the Red Sea


• Roundtrip airfare from New York to Egypt


• All ground transfers, land tours, 21 meals, English speaking guides, hotels, taxes, tanks, weights, etc.

See our detailed trip itinerary here

The price is $4999.00 / diver (double occupancy) or $5599 / diver (single occupancy) and includes everything listed above. You will need airfare from your home city to New York which will we have available when flights are listed.

Non-diver rates are available upon request.

Interested in joining us on the unique adventure? Let Steve know by sending him an email or giving him a call at (636) 949-0880.