Stop by Scuba Shack during the month of September for more details, but here’s simple the run-down. Note: This offer will be formally announced in about three days, but we’re giving Scuba Shack website readers the heads-up. Halcyon is still finalizing some offer details which are subject to change prior to the formal announcement.

Offer 1
Purchase two H-75P or H-50D first stage regulators with Halo and Aura second stages, and get a double tank hose kit, Halcyon submersible pressure gauge, and second stage regulator necklace for free.

The double tank hose kit includes:

• Primary hose: 7′
• Secondary hose: 22″
• SPG hose: 24″
• Stage bottle primary: 40″
• Stage bottle SPG: 6

Offer 2
Purchase a single H-75P or H-50D first stage regulator with Halo and Aura second stages, and get a single tank hose kit, Halcyon submersible pressure gauge, and a second stage regulator necklace for free.

The single tank hose kit includes:

• Primary hose: choice of 5’ or 7’ primary hose
• Secondary hose: 22″
• SPG hose: 24″

Offer 3
Purchase an Explorer 9/21 Primary Light system and get two HP LED Scout backup lights for free.

Offer 4
Purchase an Eos LED Primary Light (new for 2010) and get an HP LED Scout backup light for free.

Ensure you bring a pot luck dish to share, we’re providing the grill.

Admission at Brownstone Park is $26 and includes free parking. Ensure you take the day off and come early to check out all of the activities at the park … zip lines, wakeboarding, cliff jumping, rock climbing and more! But don’t wear yourself out … you’ll be diving after all that fun!

The boat will be leaving the dock promptly at 1:30 p.m., but as usual you must arrive at Cape Ann Divers by 12:30 p.m. The Chester Poling is scheduled to be the first dive, and the second dive is captain’s choice.

We have the boat reserved for Scuba Shack staff and customers, but you will need to call Scuba Shack right away to pay for your spot. The cost is $80 per person.

Ed Hayes and Monty Fitzpatrick (Scuba Shack’s resident course director) will be on hand to review the steps involved, options, program cost and materials required for any and all diving professionals interested in becoming assistant instructors or instructors. Instructors who are interested in completing the IDC Staff Instructor program should also plan on attending.

Please call Scuba Shack to RSVP if you’ll be coming to this meeting.

A well deserved pat on the back to Fran Falanga, Paul Costanz, Jeff Kezeria and Erin Arai! Congrats … and maybe we’ll see you at the next IDC!

Last year, nine divers took Scuba Shack up on the offer to enroll in the special Black Card program and these four have completed training and the other divers are in the process of completing the program. If you’re interested in joining the professional divers at Scuba Shack, check out our 2010 Black Card Education Program that can save you more than $1,000 on your training.

Now that we’re well into the 2010 diving season, Scuba Shack has a bunch of divers looking for a clear training path. We have put together three training programs tailored to meet your personal diving goals.

You can find more information here…

Work towards your Master Diver rating
Select three or more training programs and save hundreds of dollars on 11 different training opportunities.

Become a diving professional
Designed and refined after the success of the 2009 Black Card program, this all-inclusive* training package will save you more than $1,000 and includes the PADI Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver and Divemaster classes, plus the Emergency First Responder (EFR) first aid and CPR program, and the GUE Fundamentals class.

Become an Assistant Instructor or Instructor
For those of you who completed the 2009 Black Card program, or for those with a PADI Divemaster certification, you can enroll in the AI or full IDC program and save hundreds of dollars!

We believe that Scuba Shack divers are some of the best trained in the world. Why not join us for more diving experiences and let our staff bring you to the next level, and save a lot of money on your dive training!

* Program costs are exclusive of required materials.

If you took advantage of the Scuba Shack Black Card program in 2009, or if you are already one of our  practicing senior assistant instructors or divemasters, this program may be for you! The package program includes either the Assistant Instructor program or the full Instructor Development program (including Assistant Instructor).

If you just want to complete the AI course, the normal price is $600 which is currently discounted to $400, and if you want to complete the full IDC, normally priced at $1,300, the full IDC will be priced at $850.

If you are interested in either program, please contact Ed Hayes at Scuba Shack to make an appointment for a training counseling session.

*Pricing is subject to change at any time. Not all certified divers will qualify for this program. To learn more or to register for this program, the free personalized training counseling session is required and will answer all of your questions.

This package is designed to bring you closer to the PADI Master Diver certification, the highest recreational diving rating in the PADI system of education. To achieve this rating, you must be certified as a PADI Rescue Diver as well as complete five specialty certifications and complete at least 50 logged open water dives.

To pre-qualify for this program, you must have taken Scuba Shack’s Buoyancy & Control 101 program, and the PADI Enriched Air Nitrox class (or equivalent).

The Scuba Shack Advanced Training Package includes a diverse selection of classes at a reduced rate when purchased as a three-program package. (You must select at least three classes – paid in advance – to qualify for discounts.) Prices do not include required materials.

• Buoyancy & Control 201 – Special Price: $260 (normally $325)
• PADI Advanced Open Water – Special Price: $300 (normally $375)
• Emergency First Responder (EFR) – Special Price: $125 (normally $175)
• PADI Rescue Diver – Special Price: $300 (normally $375)
• Doubles – Special Price: $160 (normally $260)
• Recreational Stage Bottle – Special Price: $160 (normally $200)
• PADI Underwater Navigation – Special Price: $160 (normally $200)
• Digital Underwater Photography – Special Price: $160 (normally $200)
• PADI Wreck Diver – Special Price: $160 (normally $200)
• PADI Dry Suit Diver – Special Price: $160 (normally $200)
• GUE Fundamentals – Special Price: $475 (normally $650)

*Pricing is subject to change at any time. Not all certified divers will qualify for this program. To learn more or to register for this program, the free personalized training counseling session is required and will answer all of your questions.

For the Black Card program this year, you’ll need to pre-qualify as an Open Water Diver who has taken Scuba Shack’s Buoyancy & Control 101 program, and the PADI Enriched Air Nitrox class (or equivalent).

This package – which must be purchased in advanced to realize the cost savings – includes the PADI Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver and Divemaster classes, plus the Emergency First Responder (EFR) first aid and CPR program, and the GUE Fundamentals class. Although the program must be purchased in advance, payment plans are available.

These programs, individually priced at $2,375, has been set at a price so low you’ll be calling Ed Hayes at Scuba Shack to double check we did not make a typo. The package price for this program is $1,325 – a savings of more than $1,050.

We have two Advanced Open Water Divers classes on the calendar, plus EFR programs on a regular basis. For more information, set up an training counseling session – which is required – with Ed Hayes by calling Scuba Shack at (860) 563-0119.

The weathermen predicted overcast skies and showers, man were they off..  again!  We had probably one of the top five days of the summer. Sunny and not a drop of rain in site.

Having some divers freshly out of their open water training, this was a great place to head out into the great blue ocean. Unfortunately, the sea Gods were not as generous as Mother Nature. The viability was five to eight feet, but the dives were still great. Although the sea life was plentiful, we did not hear of anyone seeing any of the tropicals that are known to head this way in the summer months.

After the first dive, we promptly started our feast with dessert. Deco-brownies were the treat of choice (thanks Tammy and Mike). After our second dive, the grill came out, the salads were passed around, and everyone had their fill.

Seeing as everyone had such a great time, our next adventure was planned for August 14, we will be heading out to Kings Beach. If you would like to join us, please contact the shop and get on our mailing list. There will be plenty more opportunities to hit the water.

We have more than 50 pictures from the day at Ft. Wetherill up in the gallery so check them out.

Keep Diving!

-Dennis