Judith

The Ultimate Scubapro Gift Package

Need a gift that says "I adore you lots” look no further than the new Advanced Training pack from Scubapro. It contains six of the best dive accessories, packaged into the sexy new Scubapro Regulator travel bag, complete with luggage band so it fits on your roller backpack. Nice!

Dive Team Outings

One of our great mates in diving is Steve Blume and his Compact Ocean Photographic Exhibition at the Zimprints Gallery is going to be a talking point in the diving community.. The exhibition runs from 13-20th November.  Steve is one of our most sought after Dinner Speakers and after much arm twisting he has agreed to be our guest speaker at the next Club Dinner on the 20th November at the Lighthouse Restaurant, so book right now! There are only 50 spots and every month we turn people away!

Our Club BBQ and Dive Day is on Sunday 29th November at Long Bay - a great place for the whole family, even the dog is welcome (on a lead) at this spot! Bring along Snorkellers, but please book early.  For those of you with a sweet tooth I have been sworn to secrecy about the "special dessert" Magic Marge is conjuring up for this day! We are truly blessed to have such a talented catering team for our BBQ's!

Our Thursday evening "Do Drop In" Wine & Cheese Night are as popular as ever.  If you can't make it between 6pm & 7.30pm, but need a buddy for the weekend, ring and get your name on the "buddy board" so you don't miss out!  Don't forget the mid-week dives! The Friday night "twilight" dives have been awesome!

Increase Your Skills

We know you are always looking to expand your knowledge and if it is a bit challenging to boot, so much the better. Join us for our next Submersible Buoy Course.  This program will have you discovering a range of new skills and improving old ones.  Take your buoyancy skills to the next level, while learning valuable new skills needed for deeper or remote area diving.  Theory Monday 24th November dives Saturday 29th November. Course cost $245.

Japanese Midget Sub Online Exhibition

The NSW Heritage Department has announced an online exhibition of the Japanese M24 submarine that was involved in the 1942 attack on Sydney.  The submarine was discovered off Sydney's Northern Beaches by a group of sports divers in 2006 and is now a protected site.  The Submarine has munitions on board, so it is not an ideal dive destination.  The online exhibition will include side scan survey, video footage and photographs of the submarine. We'll keep you posted when the $440,000 project is ready to be viewed.

Fascinating Cephalopods

It may be the most adorable deep-sea invertebrate this side of Eddie McBlobbules, but this juvenile octopus, isn’t actually smiling. The squinting eyes are just skin folds (the real eyes are off to the sides) and the smile is just sort of colour patterns, but this cute critter the shallow-water octopus species, Megaleledone setebos, may be the evolutionary originator of many of the world's deep-sea octopuses.

By incorporating fossil information, marine biologists are able to date the original divergence from Megaleledone at about 30 million years ago. Over time the octopus evolved into multiple species, each adapted to its environment. This discovery is just one of many made by scientists during the Census of Marine Life and continuing project involving more than 2000 scientists from 82 nations.

New Toys for Xmas.

Diving is all about seeing stuff underwater and a diver can never have too many masks. Our top three brands have all released great new masks, now all we have to figure out is which one suits you best

PIUMA mask from Cressi features a single lens, the glass of which has the special patented Cressi raked position which gives an amazing field of vision, with a particularly low internal volume for a mask with a single lens. The soft skirt in hypoallergenic silicone adapts to most facial profiles. 

GEMINUS Mask from TUSA. The M-28s unique 2-window design offers exceptional visibility and low-volume comfort while incorporating TUSA's patented 3-D Strap and Round Edge skirt technologies. A newly designed skirt mounted Quick-Adjust Buckle System makes for a comfortable fit.  The Geminus can be fitted with corrective lenses for the visually challenged.

MARIN Mask from Scubapro.This mask sports a low-volume, dual-lens faceplate set in a rigid frame with cutouts on each side to enhance peripheral vision. Like a number of other Scubapro masks, the Marin features a large, double-seal silicone skirt that makes getting a watertight seal an easy task. A large nose pocket provides plenty of squeeze room for gloved fingers when it comes time to equalize. They come in some great fashion shades a cool titanium, blue and red satin colour.

Get Back in the Water ASAP!

If it has been more than 12 months since your last dive book yourself for an escorted refresher dive, dive with a qualified buddy who can help you brush up your rusty skills. 

If it is longer than 12 months you may be ready for a Refresher Course. Our National Geographic Diver Course brings your Navigation, Buoyancy and dive planning skills up to date and introduces you to Underwater Photography and hones your observation skills.

We have a special on our this course coming up to Xmas - you can save $50 and benefit from some really inexpensive rental rates. A great way to get back into the water!  The PADI National Geographic Specialty Course also counts to your Master Scuba Diving Rating.

Magnets Repell Sharks

Time to put away the baseball bats. Researchers in Queensland have discovered a simple way of repelling sharks from fishing nets - with magnets. In a world first scientists from the Department of Primary Industries and James Cook University in Townsville have shown that magnets repell sharks and are conducting trials on effectiveness in controlled condition experiments.  Remember, you heard it here first! (This came form the same source that reported diamonds attract girls, so it seems like a credible source)

New Underwater Video Mask

Attention all Cousteau wannabes. This is the new Underwater Camera/video unit. Cleverly disguised in a face mask, it is the latest craze for all divers.  By simply pushing a button on the top of the mask, you can take a  5 mega pixel image or a video clip. You may have seen the unit advertised on TV over the last few weeks, so if you want to get one for the someone special in your life, get in quick.  The unit retails for $199.00, yes amazing value, and is easy to download to your PC so you can easily upload your clips to u-tube or myspace.  We only have a limited stock arriving before Xmas, so place your orders early.

Give the Gift of Adventure

You will be doing your friends or colleagues a lifelong favour when you convert them from armchair adventurers to the real thing.

Give them  a Scuba Voucher this Xmas redeemable on any of our programs, from our Discover Scuba for just $85, to our Adventure Days for $150.  Do them a favour - get them started on their Scuba adventure!

Change their life, they will thank you for it forever.

Upcoming Expeditions

Jervis Bay - Liveaboard Weekend  28th November

HMAS Brisbane - January Long Weekend 

Truk Lagoon - WWII Wreck Diving Expedition April 09

Palau - Swim with Manta Rays April 09

Fiji - Dive with Bull Sharks July 09

Shop Early Dive Longer

If you need some gifts for young people in your life why not drop in and check out the great new range of mask/snorkel/open heeled fins for young divers from just $79, we'll even throw in a snorkelling bag.  We have a wide range of silicone mask and snorkel sets for juniors and don't forget our "Barbie range" for those little divers who adore princess pink. Give the gift of Adventure!