Today's Blog:
4th of July Trip Report
Spiegel Grove Trip Report
Aquatic Ventures Dive Club Special: Check out the new Aeris Ion Regulator!
Lobster Mini-Season (July 30-31)
Dive Tips: How to Dive Like Pro


4th of July Night Dive Trip Report

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our annual 4th of July outing! We had a blast. It was a little rainy, but divers definitely don't mind getting wet! Ocean conditions were pretty smooth and the rain eventually cleared up. We did two dives on the Pompano Drop Off, which is a beautiful, shallow reef actually accessible from shore for strong swimmers in ideal conditions. Our first dive was at twilight and we descended on our second dive at 8:30, just in time to watch the fireworks from under the water. A very unique experience! We saw a wide variety of creatures, including lots of lobsters, huge Angelfish, Moray Eels, a beautiful baby Reef Octopus, and a giant Nurse Shark. We were also lucky enough to stumble upon a large Green Sea Turtle, sleeping in a cave under the reef ledge. If you couldn't make it this year, keep us in mind for your next 4th of July celebration!

Spiegel Grove Trip Report

Congratulations to all of the Advanced students who completed their deep dive training on the legendary Spiegel Grove on Tuesday. The ocean was a little rough, but the current was almost non-existent at depth, so we got lucky, as the Spiegel is known for frequently having strong currents. The only time it was noticeable, but extremely manageable, was when completing safety stops on the way up,. We descended on the starboard side of the stern and immediately spotted a Goliath Grouper larger than any person in our group. We dove on Nitrox and even with an extended bottom time, our 25 minutes allowed for only a brief glance at a small part of this 510-foot giant. At the length of almost two football fields, only sections of the ship are visible before it fades into the blue. Everything about this dive was huge...the ship, the fish, the excitement! Every dive I've made on the Spiegel has been unforgettable and this trip was certainly no exception. We will definitely be planning another trip with Captain Slate in Key Largo in the near future. They ran a top notch operation and made everything as easy as possible for their divers.

The City of Washington is a double-masted sailing vessel, later fitted with a steam engine, that ran aground on Elbow Reef in 1917. The depth is 20-30 feet, so we had plenty of bottom time, more than an hour and fifteen minutes. This dilapidated wreck (the most distinctive feature is the lower portion of the steel hull) is a fish and wildlife magnet. Within minutes of descent, we spotted a Goliath Grouper that was very curious about all us divers and thoroughly inspected us for a few minutes. He had a buddy too. A large Barracuda joined up with us a few minutes into the dive, and he was the last fish we saw when ascending up to the boat an hour later. He was a curious fellow and swam very close to us. Fish were everywhere, from Snook, to Pompano, Hogfish and pretty much every tropical you can think of. Visibility was excellent and the current was almost non-existent. Overall, a magnificent dive!

In-Store Specials

Buy an Aeris Ion Regulator and get a free Octopus!

(For a limited time, $150 value)

NEW!! The much-anticipated, brand new Aeris Ion Regulator with Dry Valve Technology has just begun to ship this week. We will have them in-store by the end of next week. Several divers have already pre-ordered the Ion. Scuba Diving Magazine conducted a Scuba Lab Review of 17 regulators, and the Ion came out on top with perfect scores across the board.

“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 heart of this new mini-breathing machine is the natural, almost effortless performance of the pneumatically balanced demand valve. Breathing is almost effortless, regardless of depth, and this is all in a second stage that is so compact, it's about as wide as your mouthpiece.

Features:
Pneumatically balanced second stage automatically maintains inhalation effort throughout the dive.
Diver adjustable inhalation effort.
Adjustable Venturi Switch for Dive/Pre-Dive Adjustment.
Stainless steel inline ball swivel.
Nitrox compatible to 40%.
Patented orthodontic mouthpiece with high-density bite tabs.

We are accepting pre-orders and will be receiving our first shipment at the end of this week.

We're selling the best regulator for over $500 for less than $500!!!!


Who's in the Mood for Some Lobster??
Mini-Season: July 30 12:00 AM-July 31 11:59 PM

Stop by the store to pick up supplies for Lobster Season. We have tickle stick kits including gloves and nets, as well as the Green Snare (it's almost unfair to the lobsters it works so well), lobster inns, gauges, as well as some friendly advice on the best ways to catch some bugs.

If you need tanks hydro tested or visually inspected, try to bring them in as soon as possible. Visual inspections take a few days, but if you need tanks hyrdo tested, bring them in by this Wedsnesday, July 16th to get them back before mini-season.

If you want to plan a boat dive, we can help you book early morning and afternoon dives for both days.

Dive Tips: How to Dive Like a Pro
Staying Clear of the Panic Zone
Every diver should take a hard and honest look at one of the leading causes of scuba accidents-panic.

• DON'T DIVE BEYOUND YOUR CAPABILITIES. A buddy's training does not replace your own. Make sure you have the experience and skills to make the dive your planning.
• DON'T PUSH THE EDGE. Trying to squeeze in "one last dive" to get your money's worth may push your abilities too far. Cold and fatique could indeed make it your last dive. Telling yourself you'll only go in the wreck "a little way" because you forgot your light can be another potential panic-inducer.
• STAY CURRENT WITH THE BASIC SKILLS. When was the last time you flooded and cleared your mask? Shared air with a buddy? Rusty skills and lack of confidence are an open invitation to panic.
• GO WITH YOUR GUT. You may be qualified to do the dive, have the latest gear and even have made similar dives many times before, but if something doesn't feel right, don't get into the water. Don't let ego substitute for common sense.

Thanks for checking out our blog! Please bookmark this page and check back often for reports on local diving conditions, information about upcoming dive trips, in-store specials and tips on how to dive like a pro.If you'd like to removed from the Dive Club mailing list, please send an e-mail to dive@aquaticventures.com with Remove in the subject line. We appreciate any comments!

5846 Stirling RoadHollywood, FL 33021(954)965-7919

http://www.aquaticventures.com/

dive@aquaticventures.com