Take Some Very Cool Pix

Want to get started taking great underwater pictures?

Check out the very cool camera and housing package from Ikelite. Ikelite has teamed up with Nikon to create a fantastic camera package that is ready to hit the water. Nikon is one of the most trusted camera companies in the world. The Coolpix L18 is a 8megapixel camera that has a huge 3 inch LCD screen for easy viewing both on land and underwater. The camera itself is not much bigger than a deck of cards! All the camera controls can be accessed thru the housing and rated to 200 ft. This camera also takes video! Now you are taking not just great underwater still photos but video too! Check out the camera package at http://www.ikelite.com/web_two/nik_l18.html. Then call Joly at the divecenter (513-271-2800) and order your new way to share all the cool pix from your next dive vacation. With a retail price of $380 for both the camera and housing, your still have enough money for that upcoming dive trip. Learn more about the Nikon Coolpix L18 and underwater photography in the upcoming digital photo class at Tri-State Scuba on February 14th from 9 to noon. Pre-registration for the course is required.

Tri-State Divers on WNKU

WNKU is by far the best radio in the Tri-State area. If you are not familiar with the station, check them out! They have really good music for everyone that you will not find on commercial radio stations. One of my favorite features of WNKU is their "Top 89". This is compiled by the listeners via email and then counted down on New Years Day. When you vote you also enter to win Cd's. I won on New Years day.

I had been listening most of the day, except when we were underwater and when I was hanging up my drysuit. Within a minute or two I received phone calls from two different friends letting me know that I had won! Not only did I win some CD's but after speaking to one of the DJ's (John Patrick) and telling him about or New Years Day diving adventure, he gave me and Tri-State Scuba a "shout out" over the air waves. I think it was just to let the rest of the listeners know we were crazy to be diving in 35 degree water.

I have meet John a few times and he always puts on a great afternoon program. Check out John weekdays starting at noon for some great tunes. Put WNKU on your radio dial for great music, new and much, much more. But please don't forget why WNKU has such great programing and lots of music. They are public radio and rely on listener support to keep the great music flowing. Become a member, I am! Check them out at 89.7 or 94.5 on your FM dial or at http://www.wnku.org/

Thanks John and WNKU for all the great music!

New Years Day Diving

A few brave and slightly crazy divers hit the water New Years Day to ring in 2009. We met at the divecenter at 9:30am while most of the rest of the population was still sleeping or nursing hangovers from the New Years Eve celebrations. By 10am we had loaded up all the dive gear and were on our way. At 10:30 it was about 18 degrees and we were at our dive destination, Indian Hill Quarry.

With some help from Ray, Tim, Dave, Amy and Hailey we geared up in our thickest undergarments and drysuits. The brave and slightly crazy divers were Mary Ann, Todd, Dave and Joly. The mission: Looking for some fishing poles that were lost during one of the most recent fishing tournaments that was held in the fall. Oh yeah, and trying not to get frost bite! The water temperature was a chilly 35 degrees. We dove until we could barely feel our fingers, then called it quits. Our shore crew assisted with pulling off gloves and assisting us out of our drysuits. By the time we got out of the drysuits, they had begun to freeze and ice up. We did not find the fishing poles. Oh well, there is always next year!

The ride back to the divecenter is only 20 minutes. By that time we started to feel our fingers. Back at the divecenter, Joly's chili was bubbling in the crockpot. A big bowl of chili with plenty of hot sauce and a cold beer hit the spot. We reveled in our braving the elements and decided that this was the best way to ring in the New Year. How can you beat a good dive with some good dive buddies! 

Very Cool Travel Reg! Aqua Lung Mikron

Check out this very cool new regulator. It is super lightweight, great for travel. It has the new braided hoses that are 30% lighter in weight and designed to outperform and outlive traditional rubber hoses. The hoses are also extremely flexible, which helps reduce jaw fatigue.

Aqua Lung has once again raised the bar on regulator design with the release of Mikron – the smallest and lightest weight regulator on the market today. Weighing in at just 26 oz. (din) and 31 oz. (yoke), the traveling diver will benefit tremendously. Even more amazing is that performance is not sacrificed by the extreme compactness of the regulator. Its balanced first and second stages produce exceptional breathing performance.

Come by the divecenter to check out the new Mikron regulator. Not ready for a new regulator. Hotrod your regulator with the flexible hoses! Hoses available for regulator low pressure and BCD quick-disconnect. Check out more information on the Mikron. http://www.aqualung.com/us/content/view/222/

Create New Dive Buddies this January!

Do you have some friends that have always wanted to try scuba diving? They have heard all your cool dive stories and tall fish tales. Now, there is a opportunity for YOU to show them what scuba is about. In January, we have two dates that YOU can introduce you friends to scuba!

On January 17th from 9 to 11am or January 22nd from 6 to 8pm bring your "new dive buddy" to the divecenter and prepare to have some fun introducing them to the basics of scuba diving. All they will need is a bathing suit and a towel. All you will need is to want to share the love of scuba!

The cost of the program is $20. If your buddy signs up for class, they will get a $20 discount on the Open Water scuba course. You gain a dive buddy and your buddy gets to start telling their own dive stories. Please pre-register for the "New Dive Buddy" events a week prior. If you have any questions feel free to call (513-271-2800) or email scubafun@tristatescuba.com.