Mona Island Turtle

This is a shot of a turtle from Mona Island, Puerto Rico. I am using this upload as a test to see how the upload process works. Drop me an email at info@sealions.org and let me know what you think. Tom

Newsletter April 25. 2008

Sea Lines…newsletter of Sea Lions Dive Center www.sealions.org

April 25, 2008 630-289-1680

This weekend the open water season starts for Sea Lions Dive Center as we do our first open water checkout dives of the season. Certified divers are welcome to join us for diving on Sunday.

Sea Lions Dive Center in taking reservations for our Wreck Diving Class aboard the Nordic Diver out of Milwaukee scheduled for July 12 and 13 including four wreck dives. For details see the Sea Lions Blog at http://sealionsdive.blogspot.com/

The blog also contains all past issues of the newsletter, information on tips and helpful tips. Let us know how you like the blog and we welcome contributions and suggestions

On June 7, 2008 Bonne Terre Mine is hosting a Treasure Hunt!!! You'll dive for chips and use those chips to bid on donated product. At the end of the day you'll be treated to a BBQ and an auction. WE HAVE $15,000 OF DONATED PRODUCTS TO GIVEAWAY!

June 8^th Dive the Prince Wilhelm and the Car Ferry Milwaukee about the Len-Der. This charter is filling so get your reservation in soon. $95 for a two tank dive. You will need your own equipment or you can rent from the dive center. These dives are for Advance Divers only. The Boat Captain will check for and Advanced C-card the day of the dive.

What’s with the Advanced Class???

During the Advanced Dive Certification Course you will be introduced to five of the Specialty Courses offered by PADI and Sea Lions Dive Center. You will have a short classroom session at the dive center to learn about the dives you will be doing. To complete the course you will complete five dives with your instructor including a deep dive and a navigation dive. You will do three additional dives as selected by you and your instructor. These dives may include drysuit, peak performance buoyancy, wreck diving, search and recovery, underwater naturalist, night dive, propulsion vehicle, or others. You can also complete your Enriched Air course at the same time if you chose.

The June 6, 2008 Charter on the Len-Der in Milwaukee is filling up. The cost is $95 and must be paid to hold your reservation. We expect to dive the Car Ferry Milwaukee and the Prince Wilhelm. The Car Ferry was featured on the Under Sea Detectives TV show on Discovery channel and the Prince Wilhelm was rated by as one of the top ten wreck dives in the world by Scuba Diving Magazine.

We need help. If you went on a dive trip recently and can give us a report we would love to include it on our blog so other divers can use it to plan their trips. Please include at least the destination, hotel, dive operation, and a short description of the trip and particularly the diving. What you would do again and what you would do differently. If you prefer, call us and we will do the write up. PLEASE INCLUDE PICTURES.

If you wish to be removed from our mailing list please respond to this email with Unsubscribe in the subject line.

(c) Tom Robinson 2008

Schedule of Events

Schedule of events

April 26 & 27 Open Water Checkout Dives Haigh

May 2 Instructors and Dive Masters meeting 7:30

May 3 and 4 Confined Water Class Norris

May 5 Confined water begins at Taylor YMCA Elgin

May 8 Confined water begins at Wheaton Sports Center.

May 9 7:30 Cris Kohl speaks at Dive Center

May 14 Rescue Class and Pool

May 17 & 18 Advanced Class Haigh

May 18 Rescue Class Haigh

May 19 Open Pool Taylor YMCA Elgin

May 29 Confined water begins at Canpaneli

May 24 Key Largo - SOLD OUT – look for our next Key Largo trip in November.

May 31 - June 1 Bonne Terre Mines

June 1 - 4 Mackinaw trip

June 7 Bonne Terre Mine Treasure hunt

June 6 - 8 Lake Wazee Deep specialty class

July 10, 12 and 13 Wreck Diving Class

August 31 Fiji – see the blog for details.

Fiji Sept 2008

Aug 30-Sep 6, 2008 (depart L.A. 10pm Thursday, Aug 28

$2499/per person, double occupancy*

(*does not include air fuel surcharge, $253/pp as of 1/1/08, subject to change)

Includes:
* Roundtrip Nonstop Air From Los Angeles to Fiji
* Roundtrip Land and Boat Transfers in Fiji
* 7 nights in a Deluxe Air Conditioned Bure
* 5 Two-Tank Boat Dives & Unlimited Shore Diving

· 2 Night boat dives
* 3 Gourmet Meals Daily (and non-alcoholic beverages)
* Kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, Fijian culture & entertainment
* Fiji Tax

Not a diver yet? No problem! Sea Lions Dive Center can get you certified before or during the trip!!

Your deposit of $300/pp (payable to Sandra Timm) will reserve your spot on this fantastic trip!!

Balance due Friday, June 20th, 2008

* Single Supplement: $300/pp
* Non-Diver: Deduct $200.00
* Add-ons: 7 Nights - $1199/pp
3 Nights - $599/pp

Non-refundable. Trip insurance not included.

For more information, contact Sandra at

sltimm@msn.com or 847-254-6722

Or

Sea Lions Dive Center – 630-289-1680

Tank strap threading instructions

Click to enlarge

Newsletter April 18, 2008

Sea Lines…newsletter of Sea Lions Dive Center www.sealions.org

April 18, 2008 630-289-1680 email info@sealions.org

Open pool tonight (Friday) and Monday at Taylor YMCA in Elgin . Reservations required! $10 for pool entry and any equipment you need. Try SCUBA for none divers with reservation.

First Open Water Checkout dives of the season will be April 26 and 27^th at Haigh. Please sign up as soon as possible so we can arrange staff.

First Advance Class of the Season is May 17^th and 18 at Haigh. Deep Dive, Navigation Dive, Search and Recovery, Peak Performance Buoyancy. Improve skills and confidence and have more fun.

Find out more about diving here in the Midwest on May 9^th. Cris Kohl author of numerous book on the Great Lakes will talk about the wreck diving in our area.

On June 8^th Sea Lions will be diving the wrecks off Milwaukee aboard the Len-Der. Cost of the two tank dive will be $95. We will be diving the Price Wilhelm. Watch for details future newsletters.

Trip Tip – if you are doing multiple dives on your dive trip make up a mix of ½ alcohol - medical not drinking - and ½ white vinegar. Place a few drops in your ear after each dive. Reduce your chance of diver’s ear and you will get in more dives.

Newsletter April 11, 2008

Sea Lines…newsletter of Sea Lions Dive Center www.sealions.org

Watch for our Cozumel Trip now in planning. We will be announcing the dates and pricing at or before the presentation on Great Lakes Diving on May 9^th.

Fiji in August - $2499/ppdo all-inclusive from Los Angeles (Air, ground transfers, 3 meals daily, 5 2-tank boat dives, 2 night dives, unlimited shore diving, and more..) Only 7 spots left. $300 Deposit, balance due June 20^{th. Contact Sea Lions Dive Center , or Sandra Timm (847-254-6722 or sltimm@msn.com) for more details.}

35% off all in stock wetsuits. Get ready for the season.

Ed is back from his winter retreat and the repair room is back up to full capacity. Bring in your gear for a pre-season tune up now.

Remember Chris Kohl will be speaking at the Dive Center on May 9^th at 7:30 on Diving in the Chicagoland area.

Speaking of Great Lakes Diving, Sea Lions will be diving the Milwaukee wrecks and the artificial reef the “Straits of Mackinaw” this summer. Milwaukee aboard the Len-Der on June 8^th and September 15^th and with Dive Chicago on August 17^th. Please make your reservations early as these trips will fill up quickly.

Join Sea Lions at Bonne Terre Mines in Bonne Terre MO. May 31 and June 1 (this is a date change.)

Advance classes start April 18 and 19 in Gilboa Quarry. This week end trip to the Ohio dive spot still has openings. You can book bunk rooms from $35 per night or arrange your own hotel. Drysuit rental or class with prior arrangements.

Local Advance class starts May 19 and 20^th at Haigh. Call for classroom times. Sea Lions will also be doing Rescue classes that weekend. Improve your skills and enjoy diving more. Come see the colorful fish at Haigh…… brown and green are colors aren’t they????

Note from the Editor…. Please bear with us as we get our act together on publishing this newsletter. This is a new venture and we have had a few bumps in the road. For those or you who received a newsletter with your name in the body of the newsletter this was an error but only your newsletter had your name in it not all the newsletters. We want this to be interactive. Please send us ideas, trip report and pictures. We will include what we can. Thanks to John McMahon for this weeks picture from his Philippines trip.

If you wish to discontinue receiving this newsletter please respond with “Unsubscribe” on the subject line.

News letter April 4, 2008

Sea Lions Dive Center will present Cris Kohl speaking on local wreck diving at the dive center on Friday evening May 9, 2008.

Cris is author of numerous books on Great Lakes wrecks and frequent speaker. Please join us to learn more about the diving available here in the Midwest. He will be available to sign copies of his book which are available at Sea Lions Dive Center.

Haigh is now open for diving

April 19 and 20 is our trip to Gilboa Quarry in Ohio.

Great visibility – Deep Dive Opportunity – Night Dive – Drysuit rental available with advance notice and drysuit certification…. Or take your drysuit certification on the trip. Over night accommodations from $35 or book your own hotel. – Stop in and see the video in the shop.

April 12 – 13 and 26 -27 Open water check out dives are scheduled

The Bonne Terre mine trip has been rescheduled to May 31 and June 1, 2008, THIS IS A SCHEDULE CHANGE.

The Key Largo trip and the North Carolina wreck diving trips are sold out but watch for new trip in the near future.

Sign up for your advanced class rescue class now!

Dive more confident and dive safer.

Don’t forget to have you equipment serviced before the season. Remember ScubaPro and Mares equipment must be serviced annually to retain the warrantee.

Spring Specials – bring a copy of this email and receive 35% off all wet suits in April.

Look for the managers specials on select BCDs when you visit the store.

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