Article Author:

Captain D.J.
Master Instructor

Another succesful IDC!

The Rainbow Reef IDC class of January 07 was a hit. We had 5 candidates all pass with flying colors. They were quite a motley crew this time. They were from all over as well! Sam came to us from South Africa, we had Curtis from Minnesota, Kirk is in our Intership program but hails from Maryland, Dawn from Minnesota, Brian from Florida and Rick came down from Oregon!

So we wanted to say a special thanks to the Gary and Archie the Instructor Examiners from PADI. Enjoy the pictures. We have some live action photos from skills briefings, rescue assessments, and of course all our our new Instructors accepting congratulations from our Course Director Tom Witmer. As you can see, some of our graduates were happier than others! hahahha.

Congratulations and good luck to these brand new PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors:

Dawn Rust
Curtis Oleson
Samantha Jones
Rick Guenther
Kirk Johnson
Brian Napier

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

January 25, 2007,�will not be known for�Florida’s typlically hospitable warm temperatures.� However, the diving conditions were once again spectacular on one of Key Largo’s most impressive wreck dives, the Speigel (Speigel, Spiegel, whatever……!)�Grove.� The Benwood also had exceptional visibility.� A good day for Carla Meeske and Kathryn VerBeck to complete their PADI Advanced Open Water courses.� Carla is the one giving herself a congratulatory hug (as she should!) and Kathryn is the crazy person with the big grin with the regulator out of her mouth (just kidding Kathy).� Also along for the splendid conditions were Jeff meadows, Cindy Sieman, Rob�Lyons, and Doug farrer.� Carla was being instructed by yours truly and Kathyrn was being instructed by PADI OWSI Adrianna Antelo.

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Why do we endure six foot waves, strong current, and poor visibility?� Why do we endure intemperate waters, seasickness,�and cold rides back to the safety of land?� Why do we risk leaving the security of land to venture to the sea and it’s uncontrolled environment?� The reason why is because of the possibility to enjoy the heavenly conditions experienced by all divers who ventured to Key Largo to dive today (01/24/07).� I chose the adjective heavenly because the dives I experienced this afternoon were nothing short of a religious experience.� High visibility, no current, and calm waters affords humanity the great priviledge of assimilating with nature’s vast array of marine life.� It gives us an opportunity to be a part of their world and interact with them.� Their uniqueness, simplicity,�and beauty is matched only by their innocence.� They struggle to survive, and they make little marine creatures so they may continue to exist.� We are guests in their home and they are quite hospitable.� I, and several other divers with the Rainbow Reef Dive Center, were enjoying this rare, solemn time, with are hosts when it all ended abruptly.� We observed a nurse shark lying on it’s back obviously dying.� I had spoken with other Rainbow Reef personnel who informed me the shark had been there for at least�3 days, the victim of a stabbing to the head.� I know it was a person because I didn’t see any of the marine life carrying knives�on them.� So that leaves only one individual, of one species suspect.� The shark was experiencing a slow death.� I don’t know what the shark was feeling, so I can’t say it was an agonizing death.� I can tell you it was very agonizing to watch.� I can’t envision the situation where this act could have been justified.� Perhaps the shark was inadvertantly caught by a fisherman.� But why stab the shark and throw him back in the water?� Why not just cut the line?� It could not have been self-defense because surely our hero would have sustained an injury during the encounter.� Unless of course he is a�Super-hero.� That might explain it.� Because surely only a�Super-hero has the ability to attack�a shark species that is known for it docile nature and timidness, and come out of it unscathed.� Here’s a thought, and a message to�our�Super-hero, and all would-be Super-heros.� In the future, if you get the urge to stab something senselessly,�try stabbing your own throat.� The only difference�between that and stabbing�the nurse shark is:� #1 – The act will be productive, not idiotic, and #2 – No one will miss you and less people will be upset when they see you�experiencing a slow, apparently agonizing death.� I�have attached the photos of the beauty I, and my fellow divers, encountered on these dives.� I have erased the picture I took of the dying shark.� I�made this decision because my hope is�the vast majority of my fellow diving enthusiasts, and our other�brothers and sisters who have chosen a life on the sea because of their love for it,�are not like our�Super-hero.� You are more interested in seeing the natural behavior of�our gracious hosts that inhabit the sea than a morbid, irrational, idiotic, and�emotionally immature desire to observe how an innocent creature dies.� Nice job Mr. Super-hero, I guess that is how a coward like you gets his kicks.

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Alex Blais picked the perfect day to complete his PADI Advanced Open Water Class on the Spiegel Grove.� Visibility was 100 feet and there was no current whatsoever.� Alex completed his Deep and Navigation Dives to successfully complete the course.� Congratulations Alex.� Alex’s instructor was Rainbow Reef Open Water Instructor Adrianna Antelo.� Adriana is the one doing the Leonardo Decaprio “Titantic” impersonation in the photos.� I could actually hear her shout “I’m on top of the world!”.� Also joining us were divers Richey Owen, Manny Nunez, Kristen McClandon, and Matt Dionne.� Rainbow Reef Master Scuba Diver Trainers Bill Finley (Showing his Mr. Plastic Man face in the photos), and�yours truly,�and�Bill’s�future son-in-law, Ben Gredler,�were also�along to enjoy the outstanding conditions for the dives.� Surprisingly, Bill and Ben dove together, and there were no fatalities.� It was one of those dives that you wish you didn’t have to come up for air.� Oh well, tommorow’s another day.

Article Author:

Captain D.J.
Master Instructor

Howdy folks,

We visited several sites today. We were at Molasses Reef in the morning, and we visited the Christ of the Abyss in the afternoon. The conditions were just wonderful for January. Water was running about 75, and the visibility was near 100 feet with very small waves and no current! That is outstanding for a winter diving day. We had some divers along for the ride who were doing the first two checkout dives in the Open Water class, they were Brady, Taylor and Kathleen Emory. This is a great way to get certified by the way! If you don’t want to do your entire Open Water certification down here over 3 days, you can start your class in your home town, and then fly down to visit us for some Check Out dives in WARM WATER!!! That always beats the low visibility and COOOOOOLD water they have in a quarry or lake! Anyway, They are diving with Owen, who coincidentally shares the same name as the Instructor who taught them the dive skills in the pool�back home. Our Owen says they are doing great and they will be all done with the class today! Congratulations!

We also had some friends of Melissa’s (Divemaster/Crew Member) along for the ride today. So a big hello goes out to Kory, Janice, Jolinne and Tom. They came up from down in Big Pine Key to do some diving in the upper Keys. Looks like they had fun!

The crew today was Captain Neil, Shannon was 1st mate, and Brownie and Melissa where the divemasters leading the dives. Owen was teaching the Open Water class.

Article Author:

Captain D.J.
Master Instructor

Hey everyone!

The first part of January has been pretty windy. We’re getting some diving in here and there, and the visibility has been pretty good but the wind has made some pretty big waves. It’s a bit challenging for some newer divers, but it’s also good experience. It’s not really dangerous, it’s just uncomfortable for some divers. No one, not even the Florida Keys has perfect weather every day!

Many times when it’s too windy to dive, our customers ask us what else they can do in�our area. There are lots of fun activities all around. So, we decided to take our own advice today and make a crew excursion out to the Everglades. Adriana has an old friend who runs an airboat tour company (Airboat USA in Cooperstown) so we went to visit him and learn all about the Everglades. What a neat trip, we got to see alligators up close, and all kinds of other critters!��At one point we were doing 50 miles per hour skimming across 3 inches of water in the swamp! We’d stop here and there to learn about sawgrass, the different birds, vegetation and lots of other things about Everglades National Park. What a unique and awesome place, everyone was glad we went. Did I mention huge alligators? Enjoy the photos, we’ve got Eddie and Michaelynn the Alligator wrestlers, Captain Neal sampling some frog legs for lunch. Yes, I said frog legs! Yuck.. He said they were good. We also tried alligator tail! Captain Pete and Captain Bill have commandeered the Airboat!

All in all, it was great fun and we learned a lot. If you are in town and you can’t dive because you are flying that day or need a deco stop, it’s a great trip that lasts a few hours and maybe best of all, it’s on the way to the airport!

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

After debating how to spend his last day vacationing with his wife, Mr. Earnest Ponder decided to take a PADI Discover Scuba course at Rainbow Reef Dive Resort here in Key Largo.� After successfully completing his pool skills, it was out to the open waters at Molasses Reef.� The current was a little frisky, but after “fine tuning” his gear and skills, Earnest reaped the rewards of scuba diving.� At the “Hole in the Wall” site Earnest was treated to the wide, and varying, array of marine life Key Largo diving is famous for.� Congratulations Earnest, for your successful journey into the underwater world of SCUBA diving.� I think we will see him again!

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

The New Year treated a group of Rainbow Reef divers with warm, sunny weather and great dive conditions.  The visibility wasn’t ideal, but the 75 degree water temperature and no current, made for a very enjoyable, relaxing pair of afternoon dives.  Divers were led by Divemaster Extradonaire “Jesus”.  Big bad Open Water Dive Instructor “Brownie” conducted Advanced Open Water dive training.  Lastly, Intern “Lizzie” (doesn’t anybody use their actual name anymore!!??) assisted during the dives and used her keen eyes to locate many furry little sea creatures.  She located three Scorpian Fish within a 5 minute period.  She is the one upside down in the photos, obviously “showboating” her exemplary buoyancy skills!  Jesus located a couple of Lizard Fish and a small Sun Ray (as well as many other sights (We don’t call him the “Sea Whisperer” for nothing!).   So c’mon down to Key Largo go diving and work on your tan!