Newsletter, Spring 2003
News from Framingham
News from Brookline
News from the Travel Department
Kid's Corner
Experience Thailand
News from Framingham
Greetings from the Framingham store! This is Chuck, your friendly neighborhood
dive store manager. Well, I think everyone has thawed out from this
winter, lets go diving!!!
Have you seen DUI's new quickzip zipper on their drysuits? They make
it easy to zip into your drysuit now. DUI is coming to town for this
year's DOG Days on May 3rd and 4th at Stage Fort park in Gloucester.
Don't miss out having a chance to check out and DIVE the best drysuits
available. Let me know if you want to go, I've got tickets that will
let you in the door (or water as it turns out).
The APEKS regulators are in stock and everyone is giving them rave
reviews. Try out an AT-20, we have them on rental this year!!!
Stay tuned for boat diving opportunities. We plan on going to the
Poling, and the U-853. Give me a call or shoot me an e-mail to get some
info about these trips!!!
Also, congrats go out to Terrance Boylan, the proud new owner of a
brand spanking new DUI CF-200 drysuit! He will be much warmer now diving
in the early parts of the season. If you want to check out a DUI drysuit,
our next class is starting on April 29th. Come on in, and we can show
you how to be comfortable diving in New England.
Congratulations to Farah Husain and Don Telage for completing their
open water dives in Bonaire this past January on the ECD group trip.
They have now joined the ranks of certified divers. The Bonaire trip
this year was a blast. I logged another 21 dives in Bonaire. The dives
were great, and lots of pictures taken by the photographers on the trip.
Roman, David and Mark were busy on every dive trying to get the perfect
picture. However, Mark had some "interesting" results. Anyone
want a slightly used MX-10? Just kidding Mark...
Stay tuned for more news from the Framingham store...
News from Brookline
The Brookline store would like to welcome a new member to the team.
A Northeastern University student, Steve Wishoski is currently finishing
up his academic obligations while also handling retail responsibilities
in our Boylston Street location and working towards his DiveCon/Instructor
rating. Welcome aboard, Steve!
The Brookline store is looking forward to making the 2003 diving season
the Summer Of The Moving Picture. Staff members have begun to keep a
“video journal” of sorts that documents every New England
dive they do. The end goal is to produce a short-form video showcasing
the incredible diving opportunities that are available right here in
our own backyard. Too many of our new Open Water students are unaware
of the incredible biodiversity that cold-water ecosystems have to offer;
this year the ECD staff members would like to step up their efforts
to change that, this time using the video medium. Provided conditions
cooperate and the summer schools of fish and other marine life return
swiftly, we hope to have the presentation ready for mid-summer. We are
aiming to wipe out the question, “Is there anything worth seeing
down there?”
And speaking of biodiversity...
LITTLE CAYMAN 2003
This past February’s ECD trip to Little Cayman was nothing short
of a huge, sunny, well-fed success. We were all treated to a week of
incredible dives and gourmet chef-prepared meals 3 times a day. The
service and accommodations at Little Cayman Beach Resort were nothing
short of 5-star. No other piece of land on earth can possibly boast
better wall diving. If you’re looking for peace, quiet, mind-numbingly
impressive diving and attention to detail, Little Cayman Beach Resort
is the way to go. I have several thoughts from my experience there:
1) From Lettuce Leaf Sea Slugs to Elkhorn Coral to Caribbean Reef
Sharks, there are few places in the world that can claim such incredible
biodiversity in such a concentrated area. I saw more variety in 1
dive on Little Cayman than I’ve seen in 4 days at other Caribbean
locales. Dive it and you’ll understand why Bloody Bay Wall is
a photographer’s favorite pick.
2) There are few concepts that are as simple or pleasurable than
great diving precipitated by and preceding excellent dining. Fill
your belly with good food, then dive, then come back and fill your
belly again. Good in theory, ecstasy in practice.
3) Little Cayman isn’t nearly as little as its name implies.
I believe that it should actually be renamed Little If You’re
Flying Over It Or In A Car Cayman.
4) I now know what it feels like to bike 10 miles over mostly unpaved
roads that are not well lit. For more info, please see thought #3
above.
I’m about 2/3rds of the way through making the video of our trip.
Swing by the shop at the end of April if you’d like to get a taste
for Little Cayman diving. Thanks to all who joined me on the trip. We
had a blast.
I’m looking forward to experiencing completely different but
equally as impressive diving next year, too. The barrier reef system
of Belize is the largest of its kind in this hemisphere; join me on
our ECD Trip to Ambergris Cay March 6th-13th. It will NOT disappoint!
News from the Travel Department
Blurbs:
Passports with six months left before expiration, are now required
for entrance into Costa Rica as of May 1.
US Air is expanding Boston service to the Caribbean. They are out
of bankruptcy and are offering service to San Juan, Cancun and Bermuda.
Cayman Airways in conjunction with Delta Airlines is offering a companion
flys free promotion through October 31st.
The Cayman Island H2GO promotion offers $1000 savings in hotels, restaurants,
nightclubs, and some watersports. Valid until October 31st and applies
for 2 people staying for at least 4 nights.
Bonaire Dive Festival is June 14-21st. It provides marine environmental
education for divers and snorklers.
Cayman Brac Family Wee is July 13-20th.
Dive Provo in the Turks and Caicos is offering with select hotels
a free night and a free day of diving.
Anse Chastanet is St. Lucia and Scuba St. Lucia is offering a coral
Kaleidoscope package including all meals, 12 boat dives, taxes, service
charges, and transfers. Starting at $1556 per person. Special 7th night
free when booking 3 nights in advance through December 19th.
CALL FOR MORE DETAILS: 508 620-0966 or 1-800-649-3483
Kid's Corner
Summer Programs for Kids
Curacao Sea Camp: July 12-19 Ages 4-15 $999 for diver, $425 1st child,
$385 2nd child, non diver adult $699
Kids adventure includes breakfast, lunch pizza movie night, trip
to ostrich farm, sea aquarium pass. A dive certification course is
offered for ages 12-15. Dolphin encounters and much, much more. Please
call ECD for details.
Aggressor offers Family Diving and Kids Sea Camp: For ages 5-13
Aggressor offers 5 hours of supervised diving for children each day
while parents enjoy diving the aggressor sites. July 26-Aug 2 for
Bay Islands. July 5-12 for Turks and Caicos. Aug 2-9 for Belize, Nov
22-29 over Thanksgiving in Cayman.
Teen Sea Camp: ages 14-18 On Bay Islands Aggressor for newdivers
Dolphin Scuba Camp: In Roatan offers parents a chance to dive while
the kids interact with bottlenose dolphins. They are exposed to diving
and snorkeling skills according to their age level. There are programs
for kids ages 5- 9 and for ages 10-14. Selected dates are available
in June, July and August.
CALL FOR MORE DETAILS: 508 620-0966 or 1-800-649-3483
A Good Time For the Entire Family in Bonaire
A Wonderful Time in Bonaire
By Kaitlin Gallagher (Kaitlin was on the ECD family trip to Bonaire
in 2003)
I’ve never had so much fun diving! I finally got to do my
first open water dive on Thursday, February 20, 2003. Paul took Evan
and I off the small pier at the Plaza Resort in Bonaire. The dive
site was called Eighteenth Palm. It was a little scary but also very
exciting. Joanne, my mom and my dad also went on the dive. My dad
brought the video camera and video taped us. I’m glad that he
made a video so I can watch myself dive. Also, while we were under
water it rained and my dad got it on video. I didn’t notice
it was raining even though my mom tried to tell me.
I saw a ton of fish including a Peacock Flounder, a school of Blue
Tang, a juvenile-intermediate Yellow Tail Damselfish, a Harlequin
Bass, a Spotted Trunkfish and a Four-eye Butterfly Fish. I can’t
wait to be a certified diver so I can dive with my mom and dad all
the time. I had a great time but one dive in Bonaire is defiantly
not enough!
The End
Experience Thailand
This past November I traveled to Thailand with other dive shop personnel
and fell in love with the country and the diving. After resting the
night in Phuket, we toured the countryside taking in a hike in the Khao
Phra Thaeo National Park the last virgin rainforest in Phuket. While
there we visited the gibbons rehabilitation project to see the endangered
gibbons and what the Thai people are trying to do to save them. We then
had a treat of riding an elephant as well as getting a massage from
them! To think that elephants can be that gentle is a sight to behold.
After resting and having a light supper we boarded the boat, Aqua One.
She is 112 feet with eight ensuite air-conditioned cabins. The salon
has a video tape player and a dedicated photographers lounge with TV's
and videos, automatic E-6 processing and computer editing. Food on the
boat was superb with a wonderful blending of American and Thai food.
The cooks would try to accommodate everyone's tastes and succeeded quite
well.
We traveled from Phuket to the Similian Islands. These sites offer
some of the best diving in the world. Granite boulders and swim throughs,
gardens of soft corals and giant sea fans with a huge variety of marine
life are commonplace. I saw leopard sharks, squid, huge octopus and
countless tropicals. The Similans are home to nine granite islands,
which are now part of the national park system. Depending on which area
you are diving, the currents vary and the sea life changes. The west
is most noted for its boulders and overhangs. Richelieu Rocks located
in the Surin Islands is perhaps the most famous of diving sites in Thailand.
It is a small-submerged rock, which becomes exposed during low tides.
It is home to several pelagics especially whale sharks and vast numbers
of fishlife. The soft corals and the schooling fish were incredible
sights.
After departing the boat we traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand's most
important northern city, and the capital of the province of Chiang Mai.
It enjoys its own culture and customs. Among the various temples and
other sites including an elephant camp, and an orchid nursery, I visited
the Wat Phra That Doe Suthep. This is Chiang Mai's most important landmark.
I climbed approximately 290 steps to this golden pagoda. From the top,
you can see the entire Chiang Mai city and the surrounding countryside,
truly a breathtaking scene. This temple is home to many Buddha relics
and a haven for Buddhist pilgrims.
The evening in Chiang Mai offers a wonderful night bazaar. Even for
those who dislike shopping, Chiang Mai's night bazaar is worth the trip.
Extraordinary opportunities for handicrafts, jewelry, woodcarvings and
Thai silk are just some of the incredible buys. You can even watch many
of the artists creating their work right in front of you. Chiang Mai
can't be missed.
From Chiang Mai it was off to Bangkok and tours of Bangkok's most
famous sights. I visited Wat Pra Keo and the adjacent Grand Palace,
had lunch at a restaurant on the river. To ride in one of the longtail
boats over the river is quite an experience. Traveling along the river
is a major mode of transportation in Bangkok. I visited other temples
including Wat Arun and Wat Po. These historic monuments are exceptional
works of art as well as houses of prayer.
Thailand is a wonderful destination offering great diving and unusual
sites to see. Join us for our upcoming
trip in 2004.
