Crew Christmas Tree Trimming 2010

Underwater Tree Trimming 2010! The Crew had a good turnout with over 18 crew and adults turning out on a cold Sunday evening to decorate the tree. Pictures courtesy of Larry Douglas and Angelina Weller. Thanks to all of the Staff that showed up to make this event such a success. By the time we started clean-up, there wasn't any food left to worry about:))

Hope to see everyone on January 23rd at 4pm.

SEAL Team Innerspace

PADI Seal Team Aquamission 'Innerspace' SEAL Team members.
Our Seal Team meets for a new, exciting Aquamission every third Friday of each month. Not a SEAL Team member? Call the shop for details. We start a new class for PADI SEAL candidates every first Friday of each month. The SEAL Team program is for youth 8 years and above. See the attached link for more details: http://www.padi.com/scuba/padi-courses/diver-level-courses/view-all-padi-courses/seal-team-8-yrs/default.aspx
As always...these events cannot happen without sufficient staff participation. Thanks this month to: Mike LaTurno, Kevin Speidel, Larry Douglas and Jeff Haupert for making this event such a success for the SEAL Team members.

ScoutQuest 100 / Crew 2287

Last weekend, ScoutQuest 100 was held in Forest Park celebrating 100 years of scouting in the U.S. Several members of Crew 2287 were on hand (along with the DEMA Diver) to inform scouts and leaders about the joys of diving and to recruit more members to the crew. We handed out flyers on the Crew as well as Go Dive brochures from PADI. The 12 foot inflatable DEMA diver was a great hit with all who passed by. We spoke with about 500 scouts and leaders (ages 8 to 70). There were estimated to be over 20,000 scouts at the event on Saturday, with age appropriate events running the gamet from ice block sledding, kayaking and canoeing, to a 40 foot, 24 station, climbing wall. There was even a cardboard boat regatta held in the Grand Basin. People watching was entertaining as well since it was also national paint your body day, I'll leave that to your imagination. We even had a couple of wedding parties pass by the booth. Special thanks to all who showed up to help, Bill, Angelina, Tom, Janice and Chris. Without your help, the event would not have been a success.

Search & Recovery

Sunday night was another great evening for Venturing Crew 2287. The theme for the night's activity was: Search and Recovery Experience. Crew members were able to practice rigging and lifting weighted objects from the pool with lift bags; and were able to practice running search lines in the pool at the Aquacenter. This was followed by refeshments (thanks Gloria). As always, a special thanks to the staff that were gracious enough to give their time: Bill Cowley, Gloria Kolenc, Rob Harrellson, Angelina Weller and Fred Roethler. Next month will be a Digital Underwater Photography experience. Bring a blank cd or a memory stick to download YOUR photos to. As always, bring a friend. If you are between the ages of 14 to 21 you can participate in the crew activities. You DO NOT have to be certified to participate. We offer Discover Scuba at each activity for anyone not certified. Contact bill.cowley@hotmail.com or terry.flynn@stldive.com for more information.

Congratulations to our Newest PADI Assistant Instructors

Congratulations to our two newest PADI Assistant Instructors - Kevin Spiedel and Al Elbendary. Kevin and Al have been PADI Divemasters with us since last year and our currently working on their PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certifications.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Kevin or Al in one of your upcoming classes soon!

Congratulations again guys!

Aeris Ion Regulator On Sale

The current 2009 model of the Aeris Ion Regulator is now on sale for $399.99. Eventually being replaced by a new 2010 model, the current Ion has received outstanding reviews including:

"The ION feels light in the mouth due to its small size and ABS/Polycarbonate composite construction, plus it's a great breather, as evidenced by perfect scores on the ANSTI breathing machine."

-- Scuba Diving Magazine's 2008 Scuba Lab Review

The Ion features the patented DVT (Dry Valve Technology) first stage which keeps water and other contaminents out of the regulator.

Our St. Charles store has one left in stock so don't delay. We can even deliver it to our Kirkwood store for your convenience.

Suunto Zoop Computer Coming April 1st

Zoop! The new dive computer from Suunto will be arrving on April 1st! The Zoop can be used with both air and nitrox (enriched air) and is designed to handle any recreational diving situation including limited decompression.

Features include:

• Simplified menu system for ease of use
• Air & Nitrox (21% to 50%) modes
• Optional PC Interface
• RGBM Model
• Decompression stop data
• Temperature Display
• 50 Hour Profile & Logbook memory
• Super bright phosphorescent display
• Automatic Activation
• Audible alarms

Venturing Crew 2287 had another successful Crew Night!! The night dive experience turned out great and everyone who came out to the Aqua Center Sunday evening, enjoyed an night of fun. We had new divers, old divers, and in-between divers. Thanks for all of the support staff that came out. Without your help, events like this would not be possible--Bill Cowley, Rob Harrellson, Janice Kayser, Larry Douglas, Fred Roethler and Gloria Kolenc. The Crew members were able to assemble (for the first time) two of the 'space stations' that will be used with some the new SEAL Team Aquamissions. Fun diving was followed up with chocolate cake and refreshments. If you missed this event, plan on attending the next one. Set the date now...April 28th starting at 6 pm. Next month's theme--Search and Recovery experience. Come on out and try your hand at UW searches and use lift bags to move things around the pool. Once again---crew members are encouraged to bring a Venturing aged (14 to 20) friend. Check out the pictures on our Facebook page-Venturing Crew 2287 - Scuba.

Antarctica Trip Photos Now Online

Welcome back to our Antarctica trip participants. By all reports it was a fantastic trip with some amazing animal encounters, fabulous scenery and some cold but great diving!

Pictures are now online on our website for everyone to enjoy.

You can find them here at Antarctica Photo Gallery.

Be sure to check the dive travel of the website for information on all of our upcoming trips!

The TGADC Venturing Crew had a great time at the Dry Suit Experience night at he Aquacenter. Crew members were given the chance to experience diving in a dry suit in a safe, controlled environment. Several of the crew members will complete their Open Water Diver course, in dry suits of course, in the next few weeks.
Our next Crew event will be on Sunday evening, March 28th at 6pm. The theme for this meeting will be Night Diver experience.

If you are reading this and are between the age of 14 and 21, feel free to come on out. All we ask is that you contact Bill Cowley at bill.cowley@hotmail.com or Terry Flynn at terry.flynn@stldive.com.

You will need a liability or discover scuba form, signed by a parent, before you can participate. Bring a friend, same rules apply. See you on the 28th.

Congratulations to our newest EFR Instructors

Congratulations to Dr. Al Elbendary and Kevin Spiedel for completing their EFR Instructor course. Al & Kevin are both active PADI Divemasters and are also working on their Assistant Instructor certifications. Be sure to keep and eye out for Al & Kevin teaching one of our upcoming EFR First Aid & CPR courses!

AttentionScouts:

The Great American Diving Company is proud to offer the brand new Scuba Merit Badge. We have approved Counselors on staff, to help you meet all of the requirements for this new merit badge. Are you already certified? You just need to complete a few more requirements to earn this new merit badge. Call the shop for more information...636 949 0880 or 314 968 8099.
If you are a young man or young woman 14 years or older, we sponsor a co-ed Venturing Crew that specializes in scuba diving. We meet at the Aquacenter the fourth Sunday of each month at 6:00pm. Contact Advisor Terry Flynn(terry.flynn@stldive.com) or Bill Cowley (bill.cowley@hotmail.com) for more information on joining.

CREW NEWS:

Venturing Crew 2287, sponsored by The Great American Diving Company held it's first monthly activity at the Aquacenter last Sunday evening, January 24th. The theme for the evening was DPVs. Thanks to Bill Cowley, Jack Humes and Rob Harrellson for their in-water supervision and a special thanks to Angelina Weller for another fine job behind the camera. The Crew meets every 4th Sunday evening at 6:00pm. The theme for February will be a Dry Suit experience. If you are a young man or a young woman between the age of 14 and 21 and are interested in diving, the Crew could just the thing for you. If interested contact Terry Flynn mailto:terry.flynn@stldive.com) or Bill Cowley (billcowley@hotmail.com). Check us out on Facebook at Venturing Crew 2287. Look forward to seeing you February 28th.