Christmas Gift Ideas
Christmas is coming, and we have put together a list of gift ideas to make your Christmas shopping easy.
Latest newsletter:
NOVEMBER 2009 NEWS
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November is here already, and it’s only 7 weeks until Christmas! Definitely time to brush the cobwebs off your dive gear and go and have a splash (if you haven’t already…, BUT bring it in for a service first if it’s due).
We had a fantastic turn-out last Sunday for our Port Hughes Fun Day, and Matt Brunton has written a report below. Thanks to everyone who came along. It was fantastic to have most of our instructors and dive masters participating, and a good mix of new divers and old faithfuls as well. Congratulations to Rory who completed his Open Water certification on the day.
The boat is running hot, with dive charters booking up, so make sure you plan ahead and don’t miss out. We also have a range of specialty courses coming up, so if you want to learn more about diving, check out the diary dates below and give us a call to book into a course.
Dates for your diary:
Sat 7th Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart/Rapid Head double, meet at Wirrina at 11.30am
Sun 8th Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 11am
Tue 10th Nov: Course: Enriched Air Nitrox, 6pm at the dive shop
Wed 11th Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart/Rapid Bay double, meet at Wirrina at 6.30am
Fri 13th Nov: Club Night: Hawaiian Beach Party, 8pm, BYO Drinks.
Sat 14th Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 7am
Sun 15th Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart/Carrickalinga double, meet at Wirrina at 8.30am
Tue 17th Nov: Course: Open Water course theory night, 6pm at the dive shop
Sat 21st Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 4pm
Sun 22nd Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart/Rapid Bay double, meet at Wirrina at 11.30am
Wed 25th Nov: Course: Deep Specialty theory night, 6pm at the dive shop
Sat 28th Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 11.30am
Sun 29th Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 7am
Sun 29th Nov: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 1pm
Sat 5th Dec: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 4pm
Sun 6th Dec: Dive Fun Day: location to be determined depending on weather forecasts. Carpool available by
prior arrangement. Free BBQ for Club Members.
Mon 7th Dec: Course: Advanced Nitrox / Decompression Diving information night, 6pm at the dive shop
Tue 8th Dec: Course: Open Water course theory night, 6pm at the dive shop
Sat 12th Dec: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 9am
Sun 13th Dec: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 7am
Sat 19th Dec: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart/Rapid Bay double, meet at Wirrina at 11am
Sun 20th Dec: Christmas Band Party!!!
Fri 25th Dec: Christmas Day – shop closed
Sat 26th Dec: Boxing Day – shop closed
Sun 27th Dec: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 8.30am
Mon 28th Dec: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 1pm
Tue 29th Dec: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 7.30am
Wed 30th Dec: Dive Charter: ex-HMAS Hobart double, meet at Wirrina at 2.30pm
Fri 1st Jan: New Years Day – shop closed
Sat 2nd Jan: shop open!
Sun 3rd Jan: Dive Fun Day: Location to be determined according to weather conditions.
Fri 8th Jan: Course: Advanced Open Water theory night, 6pm at the dive shop
Tue 12th Jan: Course: Open Water course theory night, 6pm at the dive shop
Tue 19th Jan: Course: Enriched Air Nitrox specialty theory night, 6pm at the dive shop
Tue 26th Jan: Australia Day! Dodge Tide! PERFECT FOR DIVING THE HOBART.
Sun 7th Feb: Dive Fun Day: Location to be determined according to weather conditions.
Bookings essential for all Dive Charters and Courses. Ph 8263 3337, email dive@underwatersports.com.au
Fun Day Report by Matt Brunton:
Well, our long hot summer is definitely just around the corner and there’s no better way to celebrate the event by a good weekend dive.
Members and friends of Underwater Sports Dive Club attended the ever reliable Pt Hughes Jetty on the first Sunday in November.
It was a picture perfect day, with a slight offshore breeze which was just strong enough to keep those pesky flies at bay and keep those onlookers cool who sat under the jetty.
The turn out was great, a good mix of new and experienced divers which allows all to ask questions regarding drive practice, potential dive trips, equipment and find out “Wotshapinin”.
Although most divers weathered the cool 20c temperature in wetsuits some older veterans preferred their ever faithful dry suit. I must be honest; I thought about it, but that walk to those steps, I’d surely die of heat exhaustion before I got there!
The viz was better than average giving many the opportunity to recharge their camera batteries for another term of underwater photography. I’m sure there are many good pics ready to hit Facebook and the shop. Maybe we could talk to Dave and Jolie about having our own local photographic competition and show the pics off at a future club night? Just a thought.
(Good idea Matt! How about our club night on the 12th Feb? Jolie)
The fish life under the jetty was awesome. We swam through a school of chow? that was so dense it literally cut out the sunlight!
It was good to see Instructor Lex completing his first Open Water course, and also to see some of the other Instructors and Dive Masters (and yes Dave G himself) going out for a leisurely dive. You don’t see that very often!
The day, once again, was catered for by the Club, and yes the BBQ cooked to perfection by master Chef, Jolie. Everyone who attended had a great time. We hope you can join us next month!
Upcoming Fun Days:
Sunday 6th December: Dive Fun Day: Location to be determined according to weather conditions.
Carpool available by prior arrangement. Please RSVP if you would like to attend so I can arrange the BBQ. Please also book your hire gear in advance.
Sunday 3rd January: Dive Fun Day: Location to be determined according to weather conditions.
Sunday 7th February: Dive Fun Day: Location to be determined according to weather conditions.
Book these dates into your diary!
Club Membership:
It’s time to check that your membership is still current. Membership costs just $30 for singles, $45 for couples, and $55 for families for 12 months.
Benefits include: free BBQs for members, discounted prices for dive club parties and events, members days out on the boat, members only sales, 30% off air fills, 15% off hire gear, 10% off RRP of all equipment purchases (excluding sales items), 10-20% off new dive kits, free copy of Dive Log, monthly newsletters via email.
Boat News:
The 5th November was the 7th Anniversary of the scuttling of the ex-HMAS Hobart. We had a full dive charter, and we celebrated the anniversary with Dave and Christopher Dean, who were both involved in bringing the wreck to our shores, cutting an anniversary cake.
How many times have you dived ‘The Hobart’ in the 7 years since it was scuttled?
We’d love to hear your stories and see some of your photos. Please email them to us here at dive@underwatersports.com.au or if you’re on Facebook, why not make a post on the Underwater Sports Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adelaide-Australia/Underwater-Sports-Diving-Centre/73275334494?v=wall
Boat Charter Timetable: Arrival time Dept Time Return Time
7th Nov Saturday Hobart/Rapid Head 11.30am
8th Nov Sunday Double Hobart 11.00am
14th Nov Saturday Double Hobart 7.00am
15th Nov Sunday Hobart/Carrickalinga 8.30am
21st Nov Saturday Double Hobart 4.00pm
22nd Nov Sunday Hobart/Rapid Bay 11.30am
28th Nov Saturday Double Hobart 11.30am
29th Nov Sunday Double Hobart 7.00am
5th Dec Saturday Double Hobart 4.00pm
12th Dec Saturday Double Hobart 9.00am
13th Dec Sunday Double Hobart 7.00am
19th Dec Saturday Hobart/Rapid Bay 11.00am
27th Dec Sunday Double Hobart 8.30am
28th Dec Monday Double Hobart 1.00pm
29th Dec Tuesday Double Hobart 7.30am
30th Dec Wednesday Double Hobart 2.30pm
Charters run subject to numbers and weather conditions.
Course News:
Do you already have your Advanced Open Water ticket, and you’re thinking of doing some more courses this season? Why not take the Master Scuba Diver Challenge and package your courses together and save!
Master Scuba Diver
- the pinnacle of recreational diver training – superior achievement, proficiency in dive skills experience and underwater activities.
Save $300 and become a Master Scuba Diver with Underwater Sports
Package cost: $1845.
This includes the following courses: Emergency First Response, Rescue, Deep, Wreck, Nitrox, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Equipment Specialty, plus a PADI backpack to hold all your course materials, (total value $2145). Conditions apply.
All Underwater Sports students receive 10% discount off RRP for equipment and accessories purchases, and 30% discount on hire equipment for all course dives.
Air fills are free for courses (unless staying away for the course.)
Have you ever wanted to dive deeper?
Deep diving gives you the opportunity to experience the underwater world at a whole new level! Discover new dive sites as you explore novel and unusual aquatic life not always found in shallow dives.
Plus, the Deep Diver course takes you one step closer to Master Scuba Diver – the ultimate non professional certification in recreational diving.
The PADI Deep Diver course will teach you the techniques that make recreational deep diving safe and fun. You’ll learn deep diving limits and how to stay within them. The course will expand your knowledge on Equipment, techniques, nitrogen narcosis decompression sickness and other deep related topics.
DEEP DIVER SPECIALTY COURSE PRE REQUISITES:
• 20 Logged Dives
• Advanced Open Water
• 15 years of age minimum
• Experience of some deep and navigation dives
OBJECTIVES:
• To develop your theoretical knowledge of Deep diving
• To enable yourself to be able to plan, organize and make no-decompression dives between 18 and 40 meters
• Increase your diving skills
COURSE OUTLINE:
Theory sessions including equipment, techniques, narcosis, decompression tables, and deep dive planning.
2 double boat dives on the ex-HMAS Hobart.
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
• Personal Scuba Equipment
• Dive Computer or instrument to monitor depth
• Slate
• Safety Sausage
• Torch, knife, whistle
Course cost:
$445
Course dates:
Theory Wednesday 25th November, 6pm at the dive store.
Dives 1&2 Saturday 28th November.
Dives 3&4 Sunday 29th November.
We currently have 2 spots available on this course so please contact us ASAP if you would like to join this course.
Underwater Sports Dive Course Timetable:
Open Water (evening course), begins Tuesday 17th November 6pm at USDC
Deep Specialty, begins Wednesday 25th November 6pm at USDC
Open Water (evening course) Tuesday 8th December 6pm at USDC
Adv Nitrox/Decompression Diving Equipment Info Night Monday 14th December 6pm at USDC
Advanced Open Water, begins Friday 8th January 6pm at USDC
Open Water (evening course) , beginsTuesday 12th January 6pm at USDC
Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty, begins Tuesday 19th January 6pm at USDC
Search & Recovery Specialty, begins Wednesday 3rd February 6pm at USDC
Open Water (evening course), begins Tuesday 9th February 6pm at USDC
Peak Performance Buoyancy Spec, Sunday 21st February 8am at USDC
Wreck Specialty, begins Wednesday 24th February 6pm at USDC
Deep Specialty, begins Wednesday 3rd March 6pm at USDC
Advanced Open Water, begins Friday 5th March 6pm at USDC
Open Water (2 weekend course), begins Friday 12th March 6pm at USDC
Emergency First Response, begins Tuesday 23rd March 6pm at USDC
Rescue, begins Friday 26th March 6pm at USDC
(Dates subject to change)
If you are interested in taking any of these dive courses please contact us here at the shop by email or phone 8263 3337.
Courses may also be run on demand, so please let us know if you are interested in taking any other PADI dive courses.
Product News:
We have a shop-full of new dive equipment and accessories! We now have cameras in store, dive watches, fancy new knives, water shoes, and even double-plugger thongs! We also have some new Oceanic Regs and Computers, along with our usual range of Mares equipment.
We also have some women’s 7mm wetsuits at 35% off!
So with Christmas only 7 weeks away, it’s a good time to come in and write your Christmas wish-list. We also have gift vouchers available for any value, and we can also do gift vouchers for boat dives.
Please phone, email or drop by the shop if you would like to register your interest in any of the events, dives, trips or courses coming up. Don’t forget to become a Fan of Underwater Sports on Facebook and keep an eye on our website calendar for dive and course updates.
We look forward to seeing you at Underwater Sports soon!
Happy diving
Dave & Jolie
For other news, please see the relevant sections of our website:
