Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Congratulations to father and son, Scott and Justin Smith of New Hampshire.� Scott and Justin completed their open water check out dives on Sunday and Monday.� Visibility wasn’t bad, water temperature was moderate.� However, Scott and Justin did an admirable job managing the rough surface conditions.� Despite being tossed around like lotto balls they successfully completed their skills and achieved the rank of PADI Open Water divers.� Rainbow Reef’s newest intern, Divemaster Tanya, from London, England,assisted with the certifying dive.� The highlight was a large, docile Green Moray Eel at the Wynch Hole site on Molasses Reef.� Congratulations to the Smiths.

Article Author:

Captain D.J.
Master Instructor

Hi Gang!

It was a bit windy today, so we needed to have all of the morning divers dive this afternoon, so we don’t yet have a reef report. The visibility was real nice yesterday, but the waves were kind of big, so it’s bound to still be pretty rough this afternoon, but we’ve got a bunch of hearty divers who know that there aren’t any waves under the water, so they are going for it!

The BIG NEWS is this weekends PADI Instructor Examination that followed our February Instructor Development Course that we held over the past 10 days. �As usual, we had 100% graduation rate! That is always of course due to the hard work the candidates put in and the experience of Tom Witmer (Our Platinum PADI Course Director) guiding each and every one of them through the program. Tom was also assisted during the program by Jill, who is a PADI IDC Staff instructor.

As you can see from the photos, some folks are more excited that others, but you can also see how much fun everyone is having. We would like to congratulate the following new PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors:

Lizzie Kenney
Tom Hoffman
Brett Plater
Stephanie Hennessee��
Ron Karash��
Robert Lombardi��
Greg Shepherd��

Everyone did an awesome job, but we would like to send special congratulations go out to Lizzie and Tom, they are in the Rainbow Reef Internship program and have been working hard for several months to learn the dive business and get to this point. This is a major milestone in the program and we are proud of them.

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Steven Drake wanted to do something completely different on his vacation.� So Steve’s Dad, also named Steve, brought Steve to Key Largo, Florida to complete a Discover Scuba Diving course.� Young Steven is an avid snorkeler and, naturally, wanted to take his water skills to the next level.� Steven did a great job conducting his pool skills, and then it was off to Molasses Reef for a couple of dives.� Young Steven exhibited great buoyancy skills, and air consumption rate.� He also was greeted by some of Key Largo’s most popular underwater celebrities (refer to photos).� Did I mention Steven is only 10 years of age.� Other than being a little cold, Steven handled his diving skills, both in the pool, and in the open water, like a champ.� The young man has a promising future in diving.� It was a great day for Steven and his day.� The PADI Discover Scuba Diving course is a great way for the family to try something together on vacation.� I believe we will see Steven and his dad again.

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Michael Kennier decided to give Scuba Diving a try during some rest and relaxation from military activation.� Mike decided to use some leave time and leave his militarty base in Georgia to come to Key Largo and try the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course.� The conditions were a bit chilly, but being from Wisconsin, Mike was more than ready for the challenge.� Dives were at the Christ Statue and Banana Patch sites.� Mike did an good job with his buoyancy and did an outstanding job with his air consumption exhausting the time limit of the dives before his air supply reached the pre-designated PSI.� Mike got to meet some of the famous Key Largo Marine residents.� Note – Yesterday’s blog had some omissions and errors (For someone with the intelligence of a box of hair, I usually don’t commit such guffaws!)� Anyway, my apologies to the Schultes, Ken Thomas, Terry healow, and Deb Whitcomb.� They were diving with Virginia Knight’s group.� The group is CLE & SEA.� The group, led by Virginia, schedules seminars for lawyers by sea locations that are the best for diving.� So, naturally, they came to Key Largo.� Congratulations to Mike and thank you Virginia Knight and friends.� Hopefully we will see all of you again in the near future.

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Dennis Conway and his two daughters, Kaitlyn and Rachel Conway, and friend of the family Shannon Craig, escaped freezing snow in upstate New York to brave the Florida equivalent of a bad winter day, (65 degrees) to take a Discover Scuba Diving course in Key Largo.� The conditions weren’t the best, however the group was happy to be out of the cold, New York weather.� Dive sites were Snapper Ledge and Pillar Coral.� Dennis and the girls showed some impressive diving skills for a group with virtually no diving experience.� Dennis’s wife, Cheryl, made the trip as well but opted not to dive as she had to work on some magic spells she has been concocting.� Cheryl is a member of a covenant of witches, albeit, good witches, in upstate New York.� She said something about creating spells to tame an ever increasing surley “Fluff Boy”.� But that is another story.� Mark Carl, who has been diving with Rainbow Reef all week, was along as well.� Mark was guided by Divemaster Melissa.� Also, Laura Mollica was taking her PADI Open Water Diver Course.� She was being instructed by Kirk, One of Rainbow’s new Open Water Dive Instructors.

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Calm surface conditions, 74 degree water, no current and 60 feet visibility were the conditions at Snapper Ledge and Pickle Barrel dive sites in Key Largo.� Lauren and Stephanie Ganzel picked a great day for their PADI Discover Scuba Diving course.� Lauren is 15 years of age, and Stephanie is 11 years of age.� Based on the performance of their diving skills in the pool, and open water,�both girls have a promising future in�scuba diving.� Also enjoying the conditions were a group from�Montana led by Instuctor Virginia Knight.� The group, which consisted of Patty Shulte, John Shulte, Ken Thomas, Conor McCarthy, Cari McCarthy, and Evan McCarthy, had been diving with Rainbow Reef�for the past week.� Annie Tusany�was also along�to enjoy some snorkeling.� Lauren and Stephanie were instructed by yours truly.� PADI Open Water Instructor Adrianna Antelo also guided during the dives.

Article Author:

Captain D.J.
Master Instructor

Hi gang,

Not that this is any unique situation, but we just wanted to report that we saw a nice pod of dolphin on our way back from the Spiegel Grove yesterday. We seem them quite a bit in the summer months, but not so much in the winter, so it’s noteworthy. It was also kind of neat that we were able to hang out with them a bit. They were not in a hurry to leave, they were swimming around the boat, and jumping in the wake. We stopped the boat and watched them for a bit. So, they say it’s good luck to see them right?! Well, being the nice guys (and gals) that we are, we thought we’d let you see them too, and maybe some good luck will come your way!

Not to be outdone by the dolphins, what a great day at the Spiegel Grove! No waves, no current, and probably hitting around 100ft of visibility. The Benwood was the second location and it was uncharacteristically nice for this time of year. We probably had 60-80 feet of visibility there. Divers were saying they�could see the whole length of the ship when underwater. That is outstanding anytime, not to mention it’s February.�Normally if we have 40 feet of visibility at the�Benwood we are very happy, so this was a real treat.

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Everyone knows for mental health reasons you need to stop “sawing” once in a while and take time to sharpen the saw.� Yesterday Rainbow Reef Interns and a couple of staff members were treated to a couple of “fun” dives at the Bib and Woody’s on French Reef.� A couple of our Divemaster Candidates, Shannon and Lizzie, guided at the French Reef site.� We became a bit concerned when we did our “boat” check and saw armed, Cuban soldiers on the Beach, but hey, they got us all back to the boat safely.� Well done ladies.� At Woody’s we were treated to marine life such as Reef Sharks, Sting Rays, one good-sized HawksBill Turtle, Scorpian Fish, and many lobsters.� The Bib dive was great fun as well, (probably because everyone was “narced”).� The last time I saw a group of people that giddy was Kindergarten when they let us break for recess in the playground!� The surface was a little rough, but the visibility was fantastic, and there was no current.� On the surface the fun continued with “cannonballs” and some “floating for tans” activity.� Thanks Captain Bill,� and Rainbow Reef owners,Pete and D.J. for the great time!