URGE-2-SUBMERGE

The Newsletter for Scuba Enthusiasts

 

Volume 9, Number 1                                                                   February 2003

As this newsletter is being prepared, we are in the midst of a deep freeze with lots of newly fallen snow on the ground.  WINTER SUCKS!  We don’t know about you, but we are looking forward to bigger, better and warmer things ahead on the horizon! 

 

First of all, our apologies for the long lapse of time since the last Urge-2-Submerge Newsletter was sent. A LOT has been happening on the local diving scene since the last issue was released in September, and this issue will hopefully bring our readers up to speed.

NEW SHOP INSTRUCTORS

Probably the biggest news is relating to the local dive-training scene.  We are pleased to announce the addition of a couple of new instructors to our shop staff. 

We are proud to announce the addition of Mr. Bill Serey to our staff.  As far as experience and reputation are concerned, there is probably NO ONE within 100 mile more qualified to teach SCUBA than Mr. Bill Serey.

Bill Serey

Diving since 1974, Bill began instructing Divers with Bob Mannon in 1978 at the Ashland Area YMCA.  

In 1985 Bill became a PADI Instructor (#OWSI-21688), and in 2001 became an active YMCA Scuba Instructor and gained certification as a CMAS Instructor.  In addition to Open Water, Advanced, Rescue and Dive Master courses, Bill is certified to teach Deep, Night, Search and Recovery Specialty courses plus, he is very experienced at teaching an Underwater Crime Scene Investigator course. 

Being retired from the Ashland Police Department since August 2000, Bill held credentials with the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training as a Certified Police Instructor from 1987-2001.

Bill has logged well over 2000 hours underwater since 1974 and conducts annual trips to local lakes and Key Largo. He now instructs at Shawnee State University and the Ashland Area YMCA and here at Underwater World, and is the Dive Team Advisor for the Ashland Fire Department’s Underwater Search and Recovery Team.

Scott Penick

 Next, we announce the addition of Mr. Scott Penick to our staff.  Scott received his initial training as a diver in the US Navy. He was assigned to the USS Baton Rouge as an electrical operator and performed the additional duties aboard as a diver. He was hired in 1991 as a firefighter in Ashland Kentucky and has recently been promoted to the rank of Captain with the department. In the past 2 years Scott has completed the PADI Dive Master Course (#DM-180331), the YMCA Asst. Instructor course and became certified as a YMCA scuba Instructor in 2002 (#2389200024). Scott also organized the Ashland Fire Department’s first Dive Team and serves as the team’s Dive Master.

Both Bill and Scott are presently involved in teaching three separate Open Water classes through Shawnee University and will be teaching various courses for our shop as their schedules permit.

TRAINING NEWS

OPEN WATER CLASS

Our next OPEN WATER class, the first of 2003, is scheduled to begin shortly.  This class is to be a Tuesday/Saturday class schedule, with the classroom sessions taking place on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and the pool sessions taking place on Saturday mornings from 10:00 AM till Noon.  Following, find an itinerary for this class:

CLASSROOM   POOL

   Mar. 04             Mar. 08

  Mar. 11             Mar. 15

  Mar. 18             Mar. 22

  Mar. 25             Mar. 29

  Apr. 01             Apr.  05

  Apr. 08            Apr. 12

This class will be booked on a first come/first served basis, and judging from the number of inquiry’s received, it will fill up quickly.  Please call or Email ASAP if you or anyone you know is interested in enrolling. 

(Also, if you have any questions regarding the particulars of this class, please call the shop.)

 

WRECK DIVING SPECIALTY CLASS-FLORIDA KEYS TRIP

Over the dates of April 27 through May 1, Instructor Bill Serey will be taking a group of divers to the beautiful Florida Keys.  Lodging will be at the HOWARD JOHNSON'S of Key Largo and all diving will be with CAPT. SLATES ATLANTIS DIVE CENTER (Check out www.pennecamp.com/atlantis for details.)

The cost for the trip is $675 per diver ($475 for Non-Divers). and includes 5 days of 2-tank diving on a variety of wrecks and some beautiful reefs.  Anyone participating in the wreck diving will earn a PADI WRECK SPECIALTY certification at no additional charge. (This is a $175 Value!)

For a detailed itinerary for the trip, click here!

 

NITROX CLASSES

We will again be offering local divers the opportunity to enjoy the many benefits of NITROX. We will be holding an ANDI LSU (Limited Safe-Air User) Class immediately following the last session of the above-mentioned Open Water Class.  Please be sure to let us know if you are interested in participating in this class, as the enrollment is limited.  Stop by, call or email for details.

Back by popular demand, we will again be holding our big annual Open House again this year on Saturday, April 26. 

           

On this day, we will be offering HUGE savings on all types and brands of SCUBA gear and accessories!  If SCUBA gear of any sort is on your “need to have” list in the coming year, you won’t want to miss this sale.  Whether it is a complete set of gear or just a mask or snorkel, EVERYTHING will be on sale at enormous savings of 20-60%!

Mark your calendar now and plan to attend.  Doors will open at 10:00 AM, with a live radio remote between the hours of 12 and 3 PM.  Free refreshments will be served throughout the day.

 

PADI ISSUES URGENT PRODUCT RECALL!

Training agency's recreational dive planner dive tables may have printing errors. Several versions of the product are being recalled for safety purposes.

PADI recently discovered printer errors in certain Recreational Dive Planners (RDPs). The problems may appear in six (6) versions of the RDP, including both air and enriched air tables. These tables may be included in Open Water and Enriched Air Crew Paks, book and table combinations, CD-ROM combinations and individual tables shipped between 1 October 2002 and 31 January 2003.

While analysis of the problems shows that the risk of injury from the errors is remote, for the sake of safety, we ask that you immediately check any RDP that you purchased or received during this period

Instructions on how to check your table(s) and a complete list of product numbers and production codes is located at http://www.padi.com/rdprecall or you may take your table to any PADI Dive Center/Resort.

DO NOT PLAN YOUR DIVES USING ANY OF THESE TABLES

In the United States and Canada, you may call our toll free number at 866-698-0974 or worldwide

For specific details, click here:
PADI Product Recall link

or write to PADI at the address below for further information on this recall:

PADI
Attn: RDP Exchange
30151 Tomas Street
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

 

UWATEC Announces Recall of 1995 Dive Computers

Voluntary recall involves Aladin Air X NitrOx dive computer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), UWATEC AG, of Hallwil, Switzerland, is voluntarily recalling about 390 dive computers manufactured in 1995 and sold under the model name Aladin Air X NitrOx. Software in the dive computers may inaccurately calculate desaturation times, resulting in possible decompression sickness under aggressive dive conditions.

UWATEC AG has received five reports of decompression sickness allegedly associated with the use of the 1995 dive computers.

This recall involves Aladin Air X NitrOx dive computers manufactured in 1995. The manufacture date is located on the back of the dive computer, in the lower right hand corner. The date code reads the number of the month followed by a decimal point and the year, for example, "01.95." The dive computers are blue and black with the words "Aladin" and "NitrOx" printed across the front. Aladin Air X NitrOx dive computers with date codes other than "95" are not included in this recall.

Scuba diving stores sold the dive computers nationwide from July 1995 through March 1996 for between $950 and $1,200.

Consumers should stop using these dive computers immediately and contact UWATEC for a free replacement. Consumers will receive the current model, Aladin Air Z NitrOx.

For more information consumers can contact UWATEC toll-free at (800) 806-0640 anytime or click on this link to the UWATEC web site:

UWATEC product recall