Girl Scouts TRY SCUBA

The opportunity to TRY SCUBA in our pool at 11:00 a.m. on the LAST Saturday of each month is available to the general public. However, the Girl Scouts take it a step further and schedule their own private time with our program.

There were two sessions of about 10 girls each today. The weather outside was less than ideal for being wet but . . . our pool is indoors and heated. All is warm and well until getting out of the water and going back to the reality of outdoor winter temperatures.

Each participant brought a swim suit, towel and $20. We provided the rest of the equipment such as the mask, buoyancy compensator, regulator, gauges, weights and a tank full of air. The girls learned about the equipment they were wearing before swimming around the bottom of the pool.

Adults who accompanied the girls were not aware that they could have also gotten in the pool and so . . . they have scheduled another private session of TRY SCUBA in March of 2009. This time, it will be the family and friends of scouts in addition to more of the girls.

Christmas Party 2008

Last night was our Annual Harry's Dive Shop Christmas Party at the Lafreniere Park Foundation Center. Well over 150 friends, divers and family gathered to share in the Christmas spirit as well as gifts given out by none other than good ole' Saint Nick himself. Folks swapped stories, looked at pictures of past trips, planned future outings and generally dreamed of getting back to the absolute best DIVERSION from reality; SCUBA diving in a tropical environment. Check back in a bit to see pictures of the fun you missed by not being there. And if you were there, then I don't need to tell you anything, I just need to show you the pictures.

From all of us at Harry's Dive Shop, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season.

Curacao Trip Report

Thanksgiving Week, 2008

This year’s traditional Thanksgiving week dive vacation get-a-way was spent in Curacao at the Lion’s Dive Resort in the heart of Williamstad’s activity. The trip was a bit different in that diving was not the sole priority of our diverse group. Folks often went their own way after the two tank morning dives each day only to be seen again at the breakfast included in our vacation package. Being that meals were not included and as typical New Orleanians, all went in frequent search of food equal to standards of home cuisine. Ha! Not easily found. We folks from the south are a spoiled lot when it comes to flavor and variety.

Our week of weather was such that no-one got sunburned until the last 2 days. All dives took place as scheduled and were as relaxing as they should be. Each boat dive lasted 60ish minutes whereas the unlimited shore dives were totally up to the discretion of the individual. From shore is where we saw the squid squad and the Flying Gurnard. Naturally, we have photos to support our claim. Four of us went on a night dive from shore and had a great time. Two of my favorite photos of the week were from the night dive. Look at the trip photos to see the upside down jellyfish suspended mid-water. The comical crab, alive and left alone to mind its own business is also an interesting photo.

Four newly qualified divers emerged from this trip. We congratulate Nicole, Ashley, Rachel, and Terry (a guy). With the flexibility of NAUI and SSI, we were able to get all the required testing skills completed and out of the way early so as to make play dives yet still behave by going no deeper than 60 feet.

Our first boat dive and our last boat dive were to the same location. This worked out great for me because I was busy being an instructor observing skills the first time we dove the Tugboat. Though this site begins at 15 feet, it continues over the wall and down to depths unknown. Another of the best photographs of the week came from there. One particular photo has it all: man-made wreck, fish, underwater terrain, visible surface, divers and bubbles, floating dive boat above, terrific colors and marvelous water clarity. Again, check out the pix and you’ll see how much fun we had - even though you may not have been there.

Think about joining us next time. — Cindy

View Trip Photos