Coral Reef Dive Shop

Exciting News

Rick — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:39:26 +0000

This post is going to be a little longer then usual because there’s so many new things going on. First off we still have two spots open for the Cat Ppalu trip July 14-20, 2012. Two people cancelling has provided us the opportunity to offer the trip at a reduced rate for two lucky divers. Call 985-641-988 for the reduced price as it is so low I won’t advertise it here.

The iSea 4 is almost here. Starting the first week of July we will be carrying a housing to shoot underwater video on your iPhone 4 and 4S. The housing comes with a tray and handles for a slick video package that shoots true 1080p and will retail for about $350. To see a video shot with this housing click this link.

The Team and Bones

Coral Reef Dive Shop put down a very popular item about 8 years ago on the Black Bart wreck off of Panama City Beach. Nicknamed Bones, he was the center of numerous stories as to how he got there and provided many divers with a thrill when they saw him in the wheelhouse. We have been asked to do it again, but this time they want us to put down three skeletons, two on the Bart and one on the Red Sea. Co sponsored by Billy’s Restaurant, we are looking for Advanced Open Water students and Search and Recovery students to assist us. Each time one is put down the assisting divers photo will appear in Billy’s and on Coral Reefs webpage. Each diver will receive a commemorative T- shirt for his efforts.

The Empire Mica is one of my favorite wreck dives. A natural wreck with lots of history, it has become a magnate for large fish, turtles and rays. The past several years very few boats have been making the trip out to dive her. That changes on Friday June 22 when Coral Reef Dive Shop will take a group of divers out for two dives on this 463ft. long British Oil Tanker sunk by the German submarine U67 on June 29, 1942. The link above is to a very good website about the Mica. On the way back in we’ll do another dive on the Chippewa, Accokeek or Putnam. Saturday we’ll do a three tank 8hr and Sunday a two tank 6hr. Dive one two or all three days. All inclusive price for the three day trip is $759. The price for Friday and Saturday is $643. Ala Carte is available.

Southeast Dive News Magazine

Rick — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:55:05 +0000

I thought some of you might be interested in this article which appears this month in Southeast Dive News. We have been carrying the magazine for a couple of years now. They have some really good articles on the diving all over the southeastern U.S. This month they featured Louisiana. They got a few of the facts screwed up, but for the most part a good piece.

To read the article go here.

May Trip Report

Rick — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:15:07 +0000

That makes two great trips in a row, and this past weekend was even better then the first because we got out in the gulf both Saturday and Sunday and the seas were almost flat. On the first dive at the Strength we had about 30ft. of visibility and everyone got a good look at a Great Barracuda. We jumped over to Span 12 for the second dive and ran into the resident Goliath Grouper. Sunday we dove the Bart and watched the deckhand tie in at 45ft. from the surface. The water was just beautiful and the divers again got a chance to see Goliath Groupers, this time one huge one and one medium sized. The last dive was on Stage 2, not one of my favorites but hey any dive is a good dive. We also have three new Open Water Divers, John Cefalu, James Schoeberl and Travis Hackworth. Congratulation and best wishes for a long and exciting dive career.

Great Barracuda Stock Photo

Goliath Grouper Stock Photo

May Dive Trip 2012

Rick — Thu, 03 May 2012 23:22:12 +0000

We’re off this weekend to Florida with a group of 15 divers. Weather looks pretty good but, everybody knows how that works. I’ll give everybody a run down when we get back. The Hell Divers Rodeo Brochure is out and I wanted to give everyone a copy, enjoy 2012_HellDivers

May Trip

Rick — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:36:53 +0000

This is a quick note to remind you that we have a dive trip scheduled for May 4, 5, and 6 in Panama City Beach, Fl. The water is warming up nicely and was 72 at the bottom with the surface a few degrees warmer the last time we went out. The visibility was 35 on the Strength and 45 on the bridge span so now is an excellent time to get that first dive of the season in.

Last call for Cat Ppalu, I have room for one more couple. For more information on this trip that departs Nassau and cruises the pristine Exuma Keys please go here. Frogfish

April Update

Rick — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:55:46 +0000

It’s been a busy April and it’s only a little more then halfway over. The April check out dive went extremely well and we have four new Open Water Divers and two Advanced Open Water Divers. Earning their Open Water certifications were Janette Clavier, Scott Raymond, Jessica Necaise and Brian Necaise re-certified as an Open Water Diver. Our new Advanced Open Water Divers are Greg Luken and Bobby Edwards. Congratulations, it was a pleasure to work with all of you. The water in the gulf is warming up quickly; it was 72 degrees at 70ft and the surface was a couple of degrees warmer. Visibility was 35ft on the Strength and about 45ft. on Span 12.

We have a spot for a couple on our Cat Ppalu trip July 14-20, 2012. Cruise and dive the pristine Exuma Keys in the Bahamas with only twelve other divers. For more information please go here.

We have a lot of new gear to check out when you get a chance to stop in. The Cressi Leonardo Computer simple one button operation with nitrox capability for $349 in the wrist unit and is also available in a console for $429. Affordable Scubamaxx full 3mm wetsuits for $119.95 and a 2mm shorty for $64.73. A complete Oceanic scuba system, regulator, BC, octo, and SPG for $899. Scubapro Litehawk travel BC with Air II for $479.00 and so many more items I don’t have space to mention.

Bobby Edwards, Scott Raymond, Janette Clavier, Greg Luken, Rick Sutton, Jessica and Brian Necaise

Scuba Classes

Rick — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:13:36 +0000

Now is a great time to sign up for the beginner scuba certification classes and spend the summer exploring the earth’s last frontier. The next class will start 4/20/2012 at Coral Reef Dive. Friday’s classes begin at 6pm. We have another class scheduled to start on 4/27/2012. Sign up early to assure a spot in one of these classes and pick up your materials. Home study allows us to do the academics and pool work in a single weekend. Then it’s off to Panama City Beach to finish your certification and start exploring. For more information please go here.

New Dive Trips

Rick — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:28:53 +0000

We have some new trips that will be posted on the website shortly, but first I wanted to let everyone know that a couples spot has opened up on the Cat Ppalu trip. If your interested in the trip which is July 14-20, 2012 you can check it out here. The first new trip is to Bonaire June 23-30, 2012 for more information on the Bonaire trip you can click on this link. Lastly we have scheduled the trip of a lifetime for our serious divers. Anyone who has been around diving for anytime at all is familiar with Truk Lagoon the wreck diving mecca. We have scheduled a trip to Truk for Feb. 9-18, 2013 although airfare prices are not available yet the price with airfare will be in the $3255 range give or take $100. For those with more time at their disposal we are offering another week at what many consider to be the best diving on the planet Palau. Fly from Truk to Palau Feb. 18 for 5 days of diving.Price for Truk and Palau including airfare will be $5075.20 give or take a few dollars. These prices include airfare from New Orleans. The Truk and Palau trip should be up on the website next week.

Wrecks

Dive Season

Rick — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:21:26 +0000

The dive season is rapidly approaching, it’s been a mild winter and spring is almost here. This year don’t wait until the last minute to get your equipment prepared. If you stored your gear away for the winter now would be a great time to take it out and inspect it. Check the soft goods (mask, fins, snorkels ect.) for dry rot and cracking. Try your wetsuit on, as we get older and exercise less that neoprene seems to shrink and if it doesn’t feel spongy anymore it’s probably time to upgrade to a new one. Regulators need to be serviced every year and yes I know there’s some people that don’t but at 100ft. do you really want to play Russian Roulette, plus having them serviced every year prolongs the life of the regulator and keeps it working at factory specifications. Inspect your BCD make sure it still holds air. Hook your regs and BC up to a tank and make sure the inflator mechanism is free and doesn’t stick. Uncontrolled ascents are extremely dangerous and a sticky inflator valve is one of the leading causes. Check your dive computers battery and if in doubt replace it. Nothing is more annoying then getting ready to dive and finding out your computer won’t come on or is flashing low battery. Now is a great time to bring your regs, computer and BCD in for servicing before the spring rush comes.
We have changed the April certification trip to the 13th through the 15th of the month. The offshore trip schedule for certified divers is done and is now posted on the website calender here. Last call for the Bonaire trip in April for information click here. There’s still time to sign up for the Blackbeard’s trip in July but the window is closing quickly for more information click this link.

CPR Classes

Rick — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:08:02 +0000

Coral Reef Dive Shop offers CPR, First Aid and AED through PADI’s Emergency First Responder program or EFR. We offer Oxygen Provider courses through Divers Alert Network. We give the courses at least once every month. For a look at the dates the courses are offered please go here. For more information on the content of the EFR and AED course please go here.

For information on the Dan O2 Provider go here.