APRIL EASY DIVER TIMES

TO REACH US
PHONE:      901-753-2926
EMAIL:        SaralynnT@aol.com
US MAIL:     6161 Shelby Oaks Drive, Memphis TN 38134
WEB:          www.easydiversmemphis.com

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Dear Friends and Funseekers:

Well, spring has sprung and things are really zipping along here!  News for this month: we are holding our first ever MASTER Seal Team Program, our first ever bilingual (English/Spanish) scuba class, and working on discovering some new great places to go diving in the Florida panhandle. 

Most of our Easy Diver Staff will be bopping around Florida this weekend checking out some new spring cavern dives, trying out some underwater scooters, and soaking up some salt water in the Gulf with a new dive shop.  It is a tough job but someone has to do it, stay tuned for a post trip report on our findings. 

Our English/Spanish class is for Americans to have a chance to practice and work on our Spanish and our Latin friends to practice their English.  I really want to get better at speaking Spanish before next year's trip to Costa Rica, and it has already been a pleasure to meet and work with our quickly growing international clientele.

Speaking of Costa Rica, it has been my intention to branch out with escorted trips to new areas of the world, not necessarily just the ones that offer diving.  Although there is diving in Costa Rica, there are other activities that are more specialized and unique and that is the adventure we seek.  Other upcoming destinations for fun travel will include: Greece, Italy, and Ireland.  If you have suggestions or requests, please email them on.

TIP YOUR HAT TO:
Our latest, greatest, Open Water Divers:
Bond Hopkins          Haley Nelson            Brent Chance
Matthew Smith         Marilyn Duke

Our Florida contingent of Divemasters
Cristiane Skey         John Skey

TA DA....
We welcome our newest Easy Diver, Joshua Miller into the world.  He surprised his parents Cindy and David Miller with his early entrance and now resides in his own special underwater themed baby room.  Congrats to the new proud parents!

TRAINING
DISCOVER SCUBA, SCUBA FITNESS AND SNORKELING - $20 activity fee
Want to try diving, update your scuba skills, get familiar with your new equipment, or just practice?  We will be at the pool on the 2nd & 4th Mondays each month to supervise diving and snorkeling fun.  Students who register and prepay 24 hours in advance my take a $5 discount.
Mondays:    April 10 & 24 and May 8 & 22 at 7:00 PM
Saturdays:   By appointment

ADULT SWIMMING/SNORKELING - $25 per session
By integrating the calm, comfort, and control fostered by using a mask and fins, along with emphasis on breathing, stretching, and focus, adults who have previously been uncomfortable or afraid of the water, learn to relax.  As a result, each student establishes a feeling of safety and skill in the water that can open up a whole new world of fun and adventure.  Each private, thirty minute session is personally targeted to the individual.
Date:     By appointment

SEAL TEAM PRACTICE - $15
This water scuba time is for PADI Seal Team members to practice and keep their skills sharp.  Registration 24 hours prior to event is required in order to insure proper activity supervision.
Mondays: April 10 & 24 at 7:00 PM
Friday:   April 14 at 11:00 AM

MASTER SEAL TEAM FINAL PHASE  - $150 tuition, $32 Master Seal Team Kit
For Seal Team members that have completed Phase I & II, there are just six more Aquamissions to complete the entire program and become a PADI Master Seal Team member.  Any participants in this class will be the FIRST ever to be certified by Easy Divers.  New Aquamissions include: night, safety, search & recovery, skin diver, snapshot and wreck specialties.  Parents will be asked to make a $100 payment on the first night of class and then the balance on or before May 3.
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM, April 5, 12, 19, & 26, May 3 & 10

OPEN WATER SCUBA CLASS - $350 Group, $510 Private
Now is the time to get started in your PADI scuba diving class so that you can easily be ready for spring and summer diving fun.  Beginner divers love our warm pool and our friendly and caring staff.  We meet for five combination pool/classroom sessions which provide more than enough time for skill development in our small, intimate classes.  Please call today to register and pick up your student kit and materials.
OWC #4  Tuesdays:  April 4th at 6:30 PM
OWC #4s Saturdays: April 8th at 11:00 AM, bilingual English/Spanish class
OWC #5  Tuesdays: May 2nd at 6:30 PM
OWC #6  Tuesdays: June 6th at 6:30 PM

ADVENTURE/ADVANCED CLASS - $40 registration, $25 per specialty lesson
This class is designed to take all certified divers to that next level of confidence and skill.  All candidates will complete the navigation and deep dive specialties and then may select from any three additional areas.  Once registration fee has been paid and the initial water review session is complete, students may pick and choose course topics based on personal interests and pay as they go.  Students must reserve their class space by email or telephone 24 hours in advance for classes to be held as scheduled.  Each student must have their own: personal snorkeling gear, anti fog and gear bag.  Some specialty dive choices may require additional gear or accessories purchase.
AOW 2006 - Mondays at 7:00
April 3 - U/W Naturalist 
April 10 - Deep
April 17 - Night
April 24 - Peak Performance Buoyancy

RESCUE DIVER - $300
Know what to do when the going gets tough!  Help yourself, or help others with this challenging level of dive training.  This emergency response and preparedness training makes you a better diver and is an important step towards the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating or a leadership role as a Divemaster or Instructor.  All students must complete the PADI Emergency First Response CPR and basic First Aid course and have all of their own gear (except tank) to enroll in this class.
RD #1    April 4: Thursdays at 7:00 PM - 4 sessions
DEPOSIT:  $100 to reserve class space and to order class materials

TO WATCH
Jean-Michel Cousteau - Ocean Adventures | PBS
A multipart HDTV series premiering on PBS Wednesday, April 5 at 8 p.m. Check your local listings.

TO CHECK OUT
Welcome to SeatGuru!
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TRAVELTIME
VORTEX SPRINGS, Ponce de Leon, Florida
MARCH 31 - April 2, 2006
Let's go diving.  With fun carpool members you will find that the time on the road just flies by!  Our group accommodations at the Otter Creek Lodge, although rustic, give us a great location at the edge of the divesite.  This is a great place for dive training or fun diving for experience under the expert supervision of our Easy Divers Staff.  Trip fee includes: pool practice session, customized itinerary, group accommodations, admissions, airfills, staff supervision, and dinner Saturday night.
TRIP FEE:  $215 Diver, $115 Vacationer (no intention of getting wet)
DEPOSIT:  Trip fee due in full at time of booking
Gear rental and transportation costs are not included.  Carpools are now forming.  Students in Open Water training - $100 gear rental and $30 certification card fee.

MARTHA'S QUARRY, Nashville
APRIL 29-30, 2006
What's not to like about this fun filled quarry so close to home.  Travelers will depart by 7:15 on Saturday morning and dive Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning before returning home.  The four story building, rock crusher and various and sundry underwater 'wrecks' make this a lot of fun whether you are a first time or experienced diver.  If you will not be crashing on a friend or relatives couch, call us for hotel suggestions and pricing.  Trip fee includes: pool practice session, customized itinerary, admissions, airfills, staff supervision, and dinner Saturday night.
TRIP FEE:  $140 Diver, $40 vacationing buddy (please note: children are not allowed on quarry property unless they are diving and under my supervision)
DEPOSIT:   $75 due on or before April 14 deadline
BALANCE:  Due April 21

MERMET SPRINGS, Metropolis, Illinois (just outside Paducah, Kentucky)
MAY 29-30, 2006 (Sun & Monday - Memorial Day)
We have a blast at this underwater playground filled with giant catfish, ancient spoonbill paddlefish, and as many airplane, bus, truck and other assorted wrecks as you can explore.  This is a great place for beginner training, advanced, and enriched air specialties.  Trip fee includes: pool practice session, customized itinerary, staff supervision, admissions, airfills, and dinner Saturday night.
TRIP FEE:  $140 Diver, $40 vacationing buddy
DEPOSIT:  $75 due on or before May 15 deadline
BALANCE: Due May 22

LAKE OUACHITA, Hot Springs, Arkansas
PLAY HOOKY DAY
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
How delicious will it be to float around on one of Arkansas' most beautiful lakes diving and playing when the rest of the world toils!  We leave at 7:00 AM and return home by dark.  Trip fee includes: pool practice session, customized itinerary, staff supervision, boat fees, airfills, and snacks.
TRIP FEE:  $75
DEPOSIT:  $40 due no later than June 14 deadline
BALANCE:  Due June 20

TEMPTATIONS
THE SPIRIT, CARNIVAL CRUISE TO ALASKA
JUNE 14 - 21, 2006
sold out

BAY ISLANDS BEACH RESORT, ROATAN HONDURAS
JULY 1 - 8, 2006
How about a lovely week in an ocean view room of a former private estate?  Great personalized service, plentiful and delicious food, 3 dives daily, unlimited beach diving, snorkeling, kayaking, shopping, botanical gardens, butterfly farms, mangrove tours and lots of resting in the strategically placed hammocks.  Trip fee includes: land package of meals and room, 16% gov tax, airport transfers, 3 meals daily, 15 daylight boat dives, 1 night dive, access to Natural Aquarium, buoyed snorkel trail, hiking trails, kayaks, customized itinerary, and an Easy Divers travel and dive escort.  All of the premium ocean front rooms have already been claimed by lucky Easy Divers, there are still a few Deluxe and Standard rooms available.  Don't miss this fun adventure.  Note: passports are required for travel to Honduras, please see our website for passport application help.
TRIP FEE:           Premium: SOLD OUT
                           Deluxe:    $1564 Diver, $1449 Vacationer
                           Standard:  $1494 Diver, $1379 Vacationer
DEPOSIT:  $500 per person due at time of booking
BALANCE:  Due 60 days prior to departure

THE JULIET, BAHAMAS LIVE ABOARD
JULY 1 - 8, or OCTOBER 7-13, 2006 
2 spaces now available for the formerly sold out July trip!
Year after year this is one of our favorite dive trips!  There is nothing like cruising around on a historic 104 sailing schooner while eating, diving, playing, and cavorting with dolphins to make your year perfect. 
TRIP FEE:  $1355 from Miami plus port tax
DEPOSIT:   $400 due at time of booking
BALANCE:  Due 60 days prior to departure

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, FLORIDA
JANUARY 18 - 23, 2007
Frolic with manatees, drift Rainbow River, explore the local springs, and take a step back into time as we play and relax in the best that old time Florida has to offer.  The waterfront villas and our personal dive boat are already reserved, other details are still pending.
TRIP FEE:  To be announced
DEPOSIT:  $100 to claim a villa bedroom
BALANCE:  Due 30 days prior to departure

THE JULIET, TURKS & CAICOS
FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2007
DEPOSIT ALERT!  DEADLINE APPROACHING.
Our favorite boat travels in the winter months in search of whales and other big creatures.  Wouldn't a suntan in February be just the thing to make your winter blues abate?  I would LOVE to run this trip as scheduled, in order for that to happen I MUST have at least six deposits by April 30th.  If you have been looking forward to this trip, now is the time to ante up your deposit.  Please call me if you would like additional information in order to make your travel decision.
TRIP FEE:  $1595 from Providenciales plus port tax
DEPOSIT:  $500 due at time of booking
BALANCE: Due 60 days prior to departure

COSTA RICA
MARCH 2007, date to be announced
This trip is not for the faint of heart but for the adventurous traveler who likes a challenge and has at least a moderate degree of physical fitness.  Planned adventures include: hiking, canyoning, zip lines, white water rafting and river floats, horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, and snorkeling.  Trip plans are currently being made.  There will be a trip planning party to discuss options and budgets.
TRIP FEE: $2500 ballpark figure
DEPOSIT: $500 due at time of reservation
BALANCE: Due 60 days prior to departure

AUSTRALIA
THANKSGIVING 2007
Trip planning now in progress, stay tuned for further details.

PLEASE NOTE:  ALL trip deposits are nonrefundable, please call us for a copy of the Easy Diver Travel application that contains the full cancellation policy and penalties.  Travel insurance is STRONGLY suggested.  Visit our website for a direct link to Travelex Insurance.

Saralynn
www.easydiversmemphis.com
901-753-2926