Tune up those Scuba Skills!

A nice, sunny day reminds us that perhaps that groundhog was right..spring is looming! If you have been out of the water for longer than you'd like, certifying agencies recommend a 'scuba skills update' or 'scuba refresher' session before getting back 'into the drink'.

These refresher courses remind us of the critical skills and principles we need to be safe and comfortable divers. Lead by a certified scuba professional, there is a classroom briefing before heading into the pool to practice those important scuba skills such as regulator retrieval, mask clearing and gear/water entry techniques. We at Aqua Adventures are happy to help you fine tune your underwater skills in preparation for the swiftly approaching dive season! Give us a call to schedule a Scuba Skills Update session. We firmly stand behind the notion that comfortable divers = safe divers and the best way to achieve that comfort is through practice!

Aqua Adventures Shop Newsletter-Feb 2013

No. 9 / February 2013

Dive Season is Almost Here! Spring isn't far away, so now is the time to dig out your gear and bring it in for its annual service.  Regular maintenance is not only required by most vendors to keep up the warranty, it helps keep your equipment performing at the top of its ability, which equals more and safer bottom time for you!  No appointment necessary - just stop in and drop it off! Dive Trips 2013 Bonaire April 27 - May 4  Join us for a week at Captain Don's Habitat from April 27 - May 4!  Only $1049 pp/do includes twelve 1-tank boat dives, unlimited shore diving, unlimited Nitrox, breakfast each day, and an Ocean-Front Jr. Suite! Fiji August 29 - September 7 This is the trip to be on!  We already have nearly 20 people going, and there are only a very few number of spots available for the trip to Beqa Lagoon Resort August 29 - September 7, 2013.  The cost is only $3159 which includes air fare from Los Angeles!  $300 deposit holds your spot - call today! COMING SOON:  Palau 2014! Click here to check out all of our trips and details Training Update   February 26 is the start date for the next Open Water Diver weeknight class March 8, 9, 10, & 16 is the next weekend class Students can get a head start by taking the academics online for free!  Just check out the link on our website to get started! The next Advanced Open Water Diver class is scheduled for Sunday, February 24 from 1PM - 4pm.  This class provides you with the classroom portion of three specialties that you can use toward the four needed to get your SSI Advanced Open Water Diver rating. You'll get Night / Limited Visibility, Navigation, and Deep Diving all for one low price!! We'll schedule the quarry dates needed during the class - or use any of our trips! Learn to dive with Enriched Air Nitrox!  This very safe diving gas will help you extend your bottom times and feel less tired so you can enjoy all there is on land as well! You'll learn how to use EAN mixes up to 40% Oxygen in this class, and earn another specialty. The next EAN class of 2012 is scheduled for Sunday, February 24 at 10 AM Pair this up with the Advanced Open Water Diver class scheduled for later the same day, and you'll have all 4 specialties needed! Safety Training We now offer training in several Diver's Alert Network (DAN) courses, as well as First Aid, CPR and AED training from DAN, National Safety Council and Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI). Call us to schedule your certification or renewal - it's not just for divers! All of the safety training offered is outlined on the new Safety Training page on our Website. Check out the full class schedule by clicking here. Stay Up to Date We try to limit these newsletters to no more than one per month, so keep up to date on all the classes, trips, etc.  by checking out our website, following us on Pinterest, subscribing to our Blog, and "liking" us on Facebook. Big Dive Light Sale! Stop in now to take advantage of some huge closeout savings on Princeton Tec dive lights!  All in-stock light packs, and select individual lights are on sale up to 40% off!  This is the perfect time to get yourself some backup lights, upgrade from your old dim lights, or get geared up for a Night Diving course! What's New With the Shop? Since the last update, we have changed some displays & mannequins to make it easier to find what you're looking for, and added some new critters to the aquarium.  Please stop in and let us know how you like the changes!   We also have some great new BC knives from TUSA, a wide range of dry bags from Akona, new masks with replaceable prescription lenses from Mares, and will soon have new press-in bifocals to fit any mask. The new Sherwood Axis weight-integrated back-inflate BC is here!  This lightweight & comfortable BC is great for travel and any recreational diving, local or in the islands. Stop by and see for yourself! Aqua Adventures Road Show Aqua Adventures is supporting the Cure Tay-Sachs Foundation by donating prizes for a silent auction at a "Beef and Beer" at Duffer's Tavern in Glen Mills on February 23.  Please check out this great cause, and hopefully we will see you at the event!  For information, go to www.CureTay-Sachs.org We are looking for community events to attend in 2013 to help spread the word about diving and snorkeling.  If you have an event you'd like to see us at, please let us know!

Happy Groundhog's Day = Spring is coming!

Yes, the most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania popped out of his hole this morning and made his weather prediction: an early spring! We could not be happier about this revelation as it is 23 degrees Fahrenheit here today with snow on the way!! The start of spring also means the start of local dive season.  Our favorite local dive sites will soon come alive with activity above and below water.

Whether you will be getting ready for the local watering holes to open up or if you are preparing for a warm weathered diving destination to escape the chilly winter, it is a great time to have your scuba gear serviced.  Annual maintenance keeps your gear running at peak performance, which results in better air consumption during your dives.  Even if you haven't used your gear since the last service over a year ago, you should have it serviced as the o-rings and seals inside the regulators can corrode and/or dry out when not being used.

Additionally, most manufacturers require an annual maintenance to keep their warranty active. BCDs and regulators require annual maintenance and inspection, dive computers need their batteries checked or changed, and tanks require an annual visual inspection and a hydrostatic certification every 5 years.

The scuba professionals at Aqua Adventures will be happy to service your gear or answer any questions you have about about scuba gear maintenance. Call or stop in today!

Featured Item- Axis Buoyancy Compensator (BC)

A scuba diver's BC balances factors such as body weight, various bodies' natural tendencies toward positive or negative buoyancy, the type of exposure system you are using (i.e.- wetsuit, drysuit, etc), and the relative weight of other equipment being used in order to maintain neutral buoyancy under water. Needless to say, the BC is a diver's BFF!

We, at Aqua Adventures, have several lines of BCs to choose from. The newest addition to our BC line up is the Axis BC from Sherwood:

The Axis is a lightweight (approximately 7 pounds), back-inflate, weight integrated BC with a comfortable neoprene neckline and is crafted from durable, quick-drying highgrade material. This BC meets the needs for every level of scuba diver from beginner to advanced. One of our dive professionals at Aqua Adventures will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this or any of our BCs. We are also happy to have you try them on to ensure proper fit and maximum comfort. Owning your own dive gear is key to guaranteeing your safest and most comfortable underwater adventure! Let us help you in making such a big decision by contacting us.

Ever wonder what it's like to learn to dive..?

Have you ever wondered if you were 'cut out' to be a scuba diver? Or what skills you would need to learn? Or how long the process would take? Have you quickly talked yourself out of it because..."your ears hurt when you dive down in a pool?"... "you are claustrophobic?"... "you can't hold your breath for very long?... OR "you're concerned a shark will eat you?" You are not alone!! Many folks have these concerns and trepidations.  Luckily, the scuba diving professionals at Aqua Adventures can help you clear up those concerns by separating fact from fiction. For instance, did you know that scuba divers are taught to NEVER hold their breath?

We field many questions and would like to share these answers, along with a litany of "diving myths" with you- our future dive buddies! Also, we have compiled a photo board on our Pinterest site to give you an idea, using images, of what activities you will take part in during a scuba certification program with Aqua Adventures. Check out our "Learn to Scuba Dive" board!

Welcome Troop 78!!

Gear all laid out, ready for the excited (we hope!) scouts to embark on a new underwater adventure! We love their enthusiasm for all there is to discover under the sea! Scuba diving is a fun activity to learn at any time, but it is especially fun to learn with a group! Whether the group is your family, your scout troop, or a group of your long time pals, learning to scuba dive with your group is twice as fun! We, at Aqua Adventures, employ teaching methods designed to ensure each of our students (aka-each of your future dive buddies!) is comfortable and confident with their underwater skills before doing their certification dives. Our professional instructors help new students become comfortable divers by adhering to SSI's "Comfort Through Repetition" philosophy.


Much fun and fishy wishes to Scout Troop 78! If you'd like more information about how to become a certified scuba diver, how to sign up your group, or the class schedule please feel free to visit our website or call us directly.

Featured Item- SeaLife Underwater Cameras

Happy New Year!!
Since Jeff and Lori Merkel have taken over the Aqua Adventures scuba diving shop in Frazer, PA (Chester County) this past summer, many changes have been occurring. We would like to keep folks informed about new, exciting store events and activities in this blog! We will be featuring new products and lines of gear as well as shop events here for all to read about. If you haven't had a chance to come visit us at the shop to see our renovations, stop by and check it out! Depending on which day or week you visit us, you may see various areas under construction but it will look a little different each time.

Hopefully you have had a chance to follow our most recent adventure on our blog from Roatán. Many of you have been wondering what camera was being used to take such cool pictures..?? This seemed like a great opportunity to talk about our underwater camera line from SeaLife.

SeaLife cameras have been making underwater cameras since 1993 and are engineered and designed here in the USA (in NJ, to be exact). Their sole goal is to encourage underwater discovery and make underwater photography easy and enjoyable whether you are a snorkeler or an advanced diver! Aqua Adventures carries the SeaLife camera line because of their commitment to underwater exploration, fantastic customer service and consistently excellent results ..not to mention how AMAZINGLY EASY it is to operate their cameras!

All pictures and videos taken with shot with the SeaLife DC1400 Pro Duo system (as pictured above) by Jeff Merkel.

There are a variety of camera options to choose from, please feel free to contact us to help you select the right model for your diving or snorkeling activities..!