Smart Octopuses

Octopuses have been known to show that they're pretty smart, but some newly filmed octopus behavior has scientists even more amazed. The footage shows an octopus carrying a coconut shell with it to use as a shelter. The critter holds the shell against its body and "walks" on its eight tentacles across the ocean floor, then hops inside the shell when it feels the need to hide.

Check out the footage here.

New Trips Added to the 2010 Schedule!

Husker Divers is your one-stop dive travel shop, whether you're looking for a destination or gear for your trip. For this summer, we've recently added two new destinations to the lineup.

Stuart's Cove, Nassau, Bahamas, July 17-21, 2010: This fun island has a variety of great dives for you to experience. Try one of several wall dives. Explore a shallow reef. Check out the 200' freighter sunk in 35-50 feet of water, making it accessible even to new divers!

We'll be staying at the Orange Hill Inn, which is a quiet, country-style resort that was once an orange orchard plantation.

This trip package includes four nights at the Orange Hill Inn; Bahamas government taxes for hotels, hotel gratuities and maid service fees; three days of 2 tank dives; transportation to and from Stuart's Cove, and tanks, weights, and weight belt. An optional afternoon shark dive is available for an additional fee.

Not included in the package price are: airfare to Nassau (you can get some really good internet deals, but please contact us for help arranging your airfare if needed. Keep in mind that if you will dive on the third day, your flight cannot be scheduled to depart Nassau before noon on Wednesday), diving on arrival or departure day, meals, optional divemaster tips, and airport transfers.

Diver price is just $570 based on double occupancy. A $100 deposit reserves your spot.

La Paz, Mexico, October 16-23, 2009: Experience some of the world's most incredible diving! October is the season for the migration of thousands of whales and dolphins. We've seen bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, pilot whales, giant manta rays, baby rays, whale sharks, and hammerhead sharks.

Package includes round trip airfare from Omaha to Cabo; round trip bus transfer from Cabo to Club Cantamar; seven nights at Club Cantamar; five days of 3-tank boat dives; breakfast each morning and lunch on dive days and hotel taxes. Nitrox is available for an extra fee.

The price per diver is $1,750, and for non-divers it's $1,476. Price is based on double occupancy and is subject to any tax increases. A deposit of $300 reserves your spot.

If you want to see the "big stuff," this is the trip for you!

Please contact the dive shop at 402-420-6338 or huskerdivers@prodigy.net if you have any questions about these or any of our trips.

Deep Sea Creatures

Check out this link to the BBC, where you'll find some fascinating photos of deep-sea marine life. It's incredible what's down there!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8374306.stm

Try Scuba at Peru State College

Husker Divers staff recently conducted a Try Scuba event for interested, students, staff, and faculty at Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska. Thirteen eager participants arrived at the school's beautiful indoor pool facility to don scuba equipment and experience the fun of scuba diving for the very first time.

We heard rave reviews from those who tried diving that evening. Several commented on how incredible it was. Some told us they'd definitely be interested in signing up for the certification course we'll offer there in the spring.

Another Try Scuba is to be scheduled for this winter, after the holiday season, so that more students and staff from the school can have the opportunity to try scuba diving for the first time.

If you're a student or if you're employed at Peru State, see Dr. Kupper for more information.

We had a terrific time at Peru State College, and we're looking forward to our next scuba session there!

Polar Bear Club

Our first Polar Bear Club dive of the season took place this past Sunday, November 22nd. It was a fantastic dive, with visibility around 30 feet. Water temp was 46 degrees, and the air temp was in the low 50s with fog and off-and-on mist.

Divers enjoyed seeing several crappie and largemouth bass. One bass was spotted that really got hearts pumping, as it was a granddaddy-sized fish. A walleye was also seen navigating the depths.

If you are a certified diver and you have a drysuit, we hope you'll join us for our next dive! Stay tuned to our website, http://www.huskerdivers.com/, our Facebook page, or call the store at 402-420-6338 to learn when we're planning the next outing. We hope to see you there!

Happy Thanksgiving

Husker Divers would like to wish a very safe and happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and fellow divers!

Beautiful Manta Ray Footage

Click here to see some beautiful manta ray footage by the BBC!

Polar Bear Club: Don't Hang up Your Fins Just Because it's Cold Outside!

You don't have to hang up your fins for the winter just because it's cold outside!

Certified divers are encouraged to join the Polar Bear Club for a dive on Sunday, November 22nd at 11 a.m. at Broadfoot Lake near Kearney. Due to scheduling conflicts, we didn't get to carve pumpkins in October, so if you'd like to carve a pumpkin, bring one along for this dive! Underwater pumpkin carving is fun, plus it's a hoot to be able to tell your coworkers on Monday that you carved a pumpkin underwater over the weekend.

To become a full-fledged member of the Polar Bear Club, you need to do four dives with the Polar Bears. Once you've met that goal, you'll be able to wear the coveted Polar Bear Club t-shirt and you'll get your name on the Polar Bear Club plaque on the dive shop wall!

Drysuit classes are available over the winter, so if you've been thinking about learning to dive dry, now's your chance. You'll need to pick up the book and DVD in the store. The class consists of the book/DVD, done at home, a pool session, and two open water dives.

Any questions about the Polar Bear Club? Give us a call at 402-420-6338 or e-mail huskerdivers@prodigy.net.

Fun in the Pool this Friday!

Join Husker Divers and the Y's Strong Kids program at the Downtown YMCA in Lincoln, Nebraska this Friday evening for snorkeling, games, and scuba fun in the pool!

From 5-9 p.m. we'll be playing games, helping participants try scuba diving, and having a great time!

This event is a fundraiser for Husker Divers' adaptive diving program for physically disabled divers and the Y's Strong Kids program. Cost is just $20 and you'll be supporting two fantastic programs!

See YOU there!

Adaptive Scuba on TV

Husker Divers' adaptive scuba program aired on Lincoln's Channel 10/11 (KOLN/KGIN) tonight on the 6:00 news. You can see the story and video by clicking here.

Husker Divers works with people with physical disabilities, including paraplegics, amputees, the blind, and others to enable them to experience the weightlessness and freedom of being underwater.

On Sunday, September 27th, 2009 we are offering a free Try Scuba program at the Downtown YMCA in Lincoln from 5-8 p.m. for anyone with a physical disability. Husker Divers will provide all the equipment, as well as trained, knowledgeable, caring staff. All participants need to bring is a swimming suit and a desire to experience something unique, fun, and stress-free.

Pre-registration is through Husker Divers, located just south of S. 48th Street & Highway 2 in Lincoln, Nebraska (on the east side of the street, across from Sonic. You can call us at 402-420-6338 or e-mail huskerdivers@prodigy.net. We look forward to hearing from you!

Oxygen Compatible Service

Did you know that Husker Divers' equipment technicians use oxygen-compatible lubricants on all equipment we service? It's true! So if you're diving with a higher percentage of oxygen than normal scuba air, you need not fear that it won't be oxygen safe.

Record Scuba Dive to Raise Funds for Sick Children

Two scuba divers from Ireland are planning an attempt at the world's longest, open ocean, cold water scuba dive. The dive is set to take place on Saturday, October 10th. The goal? Forty hours underwater on scuba without ever breaking the surface.

Logistics have been meticulously planned, including how many tanks of air the divers will need and how to keep them occupied for the duration of the dive.

Read the entire story at this link:
http://diverwire.com/scuba-community-news/296-world-record-scuba-dive-attempt-for-charity.html

Husker Divers Classroom Featured in National Magazine!

The Husker Divers diver training classroom is featured on page 22 of the July/August 2009 issue of Dive Training Business magazine!

The article, by Marty Snyderman, is about creating classrooms that fit the business of your dive store and promote learning, bonding, sales, and a social environment.

Dive Training Business is a sister publication of the popular Dive Training magazine that so many divers read. The business version provides helpful resources for dive business owners and managers.

Husker Divers at WITO

On Saturday, August 15th Husker Divers was pleased to be able to introduce some ladies to scuba at the Women in the Outdoors annual workshop weekend.

Held at Camp Carol Joy Holling near Ashland, Nebraska, the workshops at this event include outdoors skills like geocaching, game cleaning, turkey hunting, kayaking, Dutch oven cooking, various shooting disciplines, and, this year, scuba diving!

The particpants met their Husker Divers instructor at the pool. After an introduction to what is required to earn scuba certification and a presentation on what scuba diving has to offer, as well as info on trips and other opportunities, the ladies headed for poolside. There, they received an overview of the equipment used in scuba diving. All the equipment except one set was assembled ahead of time, but one set of equipment was reserved for the students to learn to assemble.

Once they'd donned wetsuits and gotten fitted for masks and fins, they jumped into the water and got into their scuba gear. This was an enthusiastic group of women, and they took to scuba easily, with very little nervousness. Before long they were breathing underwater like old pros.

After the class, the participants disassembled the equipment and helpfully carried it out to Husker Divers' trailer for transport back to the dive shop. Each person was talking about how cool the experience was. One highlight for several of them was getting to watch a passing rainshower from under the water's surface. They could see the rain hitting the water from underneath, and even hear it hit the surface of the pool.

This was a super fun experience for both the instructor and the particpants. We hope they'll stop by the dive shop and say hi sometime soon!

How's Your Dive Equipment Holding Up?

It's been a busy summer of diving, with local action at our sandpits near Kearney, regional trips to Oronogo, Missouri; Bull Shoals, Arkansas and Oahe Reservoir in South Dakota. New divers have been certified, certified divers have completed specialty classes, and divers of all levels have been getting their equipment wet at dive sites large and small, in salt water and fresh water, from boat and from shore.

Husker Divers' equipment servicing bench has seen a variety of maintenance needs come under the skilled hands of our on-staff tech guy. Divers have brought their equipment into the store for regular, annual servicing as well as for repairs large and small.

What about your own dive equipment? How's it holding up? When you pick up your regulator, can you hear sand inside, like a couple of 2nd stages we've had in the shop recently? How do your inflate and deflate buttons work? Does your regulator have a round, yellow SSI service tag on it from within the past year? How about the yellow service sleeve on your console hose?

We've seen dive equipment in all stages of repair and disrepair this summer. Some divers are very conscientious with their equipment. Others, unfortunately, are not. Remember what you learned in your Open Water Diver class - take care of your equipment, and it will take care of you. Do this after your next dive:

-Soak and/or thoroughly rinse your equipment, including your 2nd stages and your console, in fresh water to remove all salt or sand. Swish your gear around in the water and be sure all sand, silt, and anything else are out before you dry it.

-Rinse the inside of your BC with fresh water, slosh it around, and turn the BC upside down to drain, holding your oral inflation button open to allow the water to drain out (if you have the AirSource 3, just let the water run out the corrugated hose on the shoulder). You may need to shift the BC around in order to get the last of the water out of the nooks and crannies. Once it's empty of water, orally inflate it to keep the bladder from sticking together and hang it to dry. You can also use wetsuit/BC shampoo in water to wash and rinse out your BC.

-Take integrated weight pockets, dive knives, and other accessories off your BC and rinse those, too. If your knife sheath is mounted to your BC, check the fasteners to be sure they're tight.

-After thoroughly washing your wetsuit and other neoprene items, like boots, hoods, and gloves, in fresh water or water with wetsuit shampoo, hang them to dry inside out. Once the inside of these items is dry, turn them right side out to continue drying, and hang them, ready for your next dive. Remember to hang your suit on a hangar with wide shoulders to prevent creases in the neoprene. Neoprene boots can be unzipped, the cuffs rolled down, and left in a shady area to dry. Hang them upside down, if possible, or stuff newspaper inside to absorb moisture. 500 PSI's "Fresh Again" spray is great for spraying inside boots and on any of your neoprene for a fresh scent.

-Occasionally use 500 PSI "Mask Scrub" on your mask lenses, inside and out, to remove defog buildup and any water spots. Wash the entire mask thoroughly with dishwashing soap, using an old toothbrush to get into nooks and crevices.

-Computer screens and the glass over compasses can be scratched or broken. Always store and travel with your console inside a protective case or bag.

-Check your fin and mask straps for wear and cracks. Consider picking up spare straps to keep in your tool/spare parts kit in case one breaks at a dive site.

In the market for new dive equipment? Check out the following outstanding reasons to purchase dive equipment from Husker Divers:

-We carry the top technology available in diving industry
-We personally fit all equip not only to YOUR size but to YOUR needs
-We have a certified equipment tech on staff who services all the equipment we sell
-All the equipment we sell is fully warranted through our manufacturers and distributors
-We offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee so you're completely comfortable with your gear
-Buy a computer or camera from us and get a FREE class on how to use it
-All equipment you buy is fully assembled and tested before you receive it
-On new equip, Aqualung offers free parts for your reg every year for as long as you own it. You only pay for the labor.
-Free service on your equipment for your first year of ownership
-Test your new equipment in the pool after buying it. If it's not right we'll replace it with something that will work for you.
-Financing is available. Six months same as cash.

Your dive equipment is crucial to your safety and your enjoyment of diving. We're not satisfied until you are!

Oahe Spearfishing Trip a Success!

The first of two dive trips to Oahe Reservoir in South Dakota was a great success, with over 40 fish harvested and some exciting tailrace diving, as well.

On Friday, July 31st, 17 divers from Husker Divers converged on Steamboat's Skin and Scuba shop in Pierre, South Dakota. The shop, owned by Caleb and Josh Gilkerson, is a scuba shop, kayaking outfitter, hunting outfitter, and all around go-to spot for outdoorsmen from far and wide.

The first dive of the trip took place Friday afternoon in the tailrace, which is the water being let out of the dam. Those participating stepped off the pontoon boats into the current, dropped to the bottom at around 26 feet, and were carried downstream, watching sturgeon, drum, and even a burbot lurking behind a boulder flash by.

On Saturday the divers loaded up and headed for Spring Creek, one of the marinas on Oahe. Four platform boats loaded with divers and gear dispersed around the area, the boats captained by Caleb, Josh, and their crew. Each boat carried 4-5 divers and their gear and went to a different area of the lake to try their luck at harvesting some fish. It was the first time spearfishing for a few of the divers, but it didn't take long for them to learn the ropes, and soon the fish started filling the live wells.

All four boats met back at the marina for a tasty shore lunch of pheasant sandwiches, chips, and drinks whipped up by Steamboat's staff. After the break it was back to the fishing. At the end of the day, Steamboat's crew hauled the catch away for cleaning, then brought the filets back to the Spring Creek marina restaurant to cook up for the hungry divers.

Later Saturday night, it was time for a night dive in the tailrace. The divers stepped off the pontoon boats into the black water in pairs, with a dive flag equipped with a strobe for visibility on the surface. Dropping down, the current wasn't felt at all, but once the divers' lights hit the bottom, it was obvious the current was ripping along. Right away the hundreds of white catfish seen on this dive started appearing in the beam of the divers' lights. These fish were present along the entire route of the dive; with every single sweep of a light they could be seen, facing into the current. A few sturgeon were around too, and one set of divers said they spotted another burbot, but the fast current prevented any stopping for a closer look. This 3/4 mile drift dive was a real thrill ride, and each person who participated loved every second of it.

On Sunday, it was back to the fishing. Some of the divers were able to harvest their limit of walleye, and many bass were harvested, as well. The live wells and coolers were full of fish, and once again, Caleb, Josh, and crew cleaned all the fish. They fileted them, put them in bags, and even vacuum packed the filets. Every diver on the trip received a bag of filets, and Caleb made sure that divers who'd harvested an especially big or otherwise unique fish got to take that fish home with him or her.

All the divers had a great time spearfishing, diving the tailrace, and just spending time with other divers. The meals were good, Steamboat's staff was extremely professional and friendly, and it was just an all-around fantastic trip. A second trip to Oahe is taking off this weekend, and those divers are certainly in for as fun and exciting an experience as the first group.

If you're interested in participating in one of next year's Husker Divers trips to Oahe, see Joe or Donna Tyler at the dive shop, or give them a call at 402-420-6338 or e-mail huskerdivers@prodigy.net. You do not need to be a super experienced diver to participate in this trip. If you're a certified Open Water Diver, you're welcome. You will need to own or rent your equipment, and Husker Divers has some spearguns to rent.

Lake Cleanup

Today was lake cleanup day for Husker Divers, and in the morning, divers and their families began arriving for what would turn out to be a super fun day of diving, food, swapping stories, and more diving. The location was L.E. Ray Lake in Grand Island, Nebraska. As soon as the divers saw the lake, the comments about the great vis began - the water looked so clear!

After a pre-dive briefing, everyone geared up and hit the water. Those not diving collected trash around the shore area, while the divers were issued mesh bags to fill with whatever they found. The usual bottles and cans and fishing tackle were brought in after the first dive, and all fishing line was put in its own bag to be sent in to Berkley Fishing's recycling program. Other items found included an ice fishing rod and reel combo, golf balls, a steak knife, a multitude of fishing lures, an old purse, and a duffle bag.

Not a lot of trash was to be found around the shore areas. A fisherman the divers spoke to said he frequently picks up trash around the area, which was good to hear. Another angler the divers met repeatedly thanked us for cleaning up the lake.

At noon, Joe Tyler fired up the grill and cooked a whole lot of burgers and hot dogs for the appreciative group. Donna Tyler manned the condiment and bun table, and the two made sure everyone had plenty to eat, with chips, pop, and water in abundance. Husker Divers provides all the food at this event each year as a thank you to all our divers and other customers.

Following the lunch break, the divers geared back up and hit the water again to find more trash (or treasure, however you look at it).

The day was wonderful, with perfect, sunny weather, lots of families and friends, great food, and fun diving. If you weren't able to make this year's event, we hope to see you next year in July!

Bull Shoals Trip Report

On Friday, July 10th, sixteen divers from Nebraska converged on Pontiac Lodge Resort, on Bull Shoals Lake in Missouri. A meal on the outside deck at the Pontiac Cove Marina restaurant that evening gave most of the group a chance to meet and greet before Saturday's dives began. Most of those present had met before, if only briefly, but a few divers new to Husker Divers joined us, as well.

On Saturday morning, the group converged on the dock and loaded all the tanks and equipment on the two pontoon boats rented for the dives. After setting up dive equipment, everyone settled into a seat and we were underway. Joe Tyler drove the 35-foot boat, and Kelsey Weiss, a Husker Divers DiveCon from Imperial, Nebraska, drove the 24-footer.

This was a mixed group, with several newer divers and a few with more experience. Bull Shoals is ideal for a group like this, as many of the dive sites have a combination of gentle slopes or shallow rock ledges and deeper wall dives. Abundant fish and varied terrain make each site unique and fun to explore.

One of the divers had completed her academic and pool requirements over the winter and was doing her required open water dives for certification during this trip. It was a fantastic first open water experience. She even found a mask and snorkel on the bottom during one of her dives.

That mask and snorkel were just some of the dive booty found at a site that turned out to be just about everyone's favorite. Everyone on the larger boat, anyway. Divers from that boat found a $10 bill, a $5 bill, a brand new bass lure, and a nice, useable pair of sunglasses. One of the Husker Divers staff found a new 10-pound anchor at another site, which made a total of two anchors found and hauled aboard on this trip. Various other fishing tackle was found during the trip, as well.

A highlight of the trip for five of the divers was the deep dive. Joe Tyler led the group down through the murky thermocline and into the 50-foot visibility below. The water temperature there, at 57 degrees, was not as cold as expected. The group found an underwater forest and swam through the tall, dead trees, ducking under branches and maneuvering around the trunks. One diver dropped down to the sloping forest floor, where she found a huge, white-shelled clam (one buddy pair, 20 feet above, said later they saw her carrying the clam and could tell what it was in the clear visibility). At 121 feet, the bottom continued downward but the forest seemed to thin out. It was time to begin the ascent. A large walleye was spotted briefly on the way up, at around 95 feet. During the safety stop, one diver spent the time building sculptures out of the rocks and slabs of shale on the bottom at about 19-20 feet. The group continued to explore the rocky ledges and overhangs as they made their way back to the boat.

Back at the resort, the group spent the evenings grilling on the deck outside the rooms and swapping stories. Pontiac Lodge Resort was ideal, with very clean rooms and kitchenettes in each room. The kitchenettes are stocked with pots and pans, dishes and utensils. A charcoal grill sits outside eatch room (bring your own charcoal and lighter fluid). All linens are provided.

The marina staff was professional and friendly. Our two pontoon boats ran great and were clean and well-maintained.

This trip to Bull Shoals was absolutely wonderful, as was the June trip. Next year's two trip dates are set, and divers can contact Husker Divers for dates and to reserve your spot. Call the store at 402-420-6338 or e-mail huskerdivers@prodigy.net with any questions. Or stop by the store at 5600 S 48th Street in Lincoln (1 block south of 48th Street and Highway 2, across from Sonic). We hope you'll join us next year!

Happenings and What's Going On

Husker Divers had ten Boy Scouts from an Omaha troop complete a Scuba BSA session in the pool on Sunday evening, July 5th. The guys had a great time, and they earned a patch they can wear on their swim trunks. Congrats, guys!

Husker Divers has three new Medic First Aid/CPR instructors. This class is for everyone, not just divers. If you or someone you know would like to take a first aid/CPR class, let us know at 402-420-6338 or at huskerdivers@prodigy.net. Class times are flexible and can be scheduled on evenings and Sundays when the store is closed. Divers, you should know that First aid/CPR certification is required for Stress & Rescue certification.

Our second Bull Shoals, Arkansas trip leaves this Friday. Those who were on the first trip reported 35-40' visibility, and the vis should be just as good for this weekend's trip!

If you haven't visited DAN's (Divers Alert Network) website in awhile, or if you're not yet a DAN member, be sure to check it out. They've added a number of fantastic benefits for members, including free online workshops and travel info. It definitely pays to be a DAN member!

Don't forget to sign up for SSI's 2009 Master Diver Challenge! To be a Master Diver, you need to have completed four specialties plus Stress & Rescue and have 50 logged dives. The next Stress & Rescue/Search & Recovery classes will be held in conjunction with our open water weekend in Kearney the last weekend in July. We'll also be offering these two specialties at the September open waters. Any time we're in Kearney, certified divers are welcome to join us to log dives and/or complete specialties. Just let us know in advance.

Congratulations, New Open Water Divers!

On the mornings of Saturday and Sunday, June 27th and 28th, 18 students and several Husker Divers staff converged on a private sandpit lake near Kearney. On Sunday afternoon, eighteen brand new Open Water Divers, including two adaptive divers, emerged from the depths. Congratulations, all!

Some of the certified divers with us in Kearney over the weekend participated in a night dive on Saturday night. A highlight of the night dive was the 3-foot long catfish seen cruising near the exit point.

It was a great weekend!

First Aid/CPR Classes for Everyone

Husker Divers teaches first aid and CPR classes for divers and non-divers! These OSHA-approved classes are designed for those who are required to have first aid certification for their workplaces, as well as for anyone who wants to know how to help someone in need of basic first aid or CPR help.

Several ladies from Advanced Aesthetics took the class tonight. It was required for their soon-to-graduate students, and it worked out well, since their facility is just a couple of doors down from Husker Divers' location on S 48th Street.

If you or anyone you know would like to take this class, please contact the store. We're adding three new instructors, so we can schedule classes to fit a variety of schedules, including evenings and Sundays. Contact Husker Divers at 402-420-6338 or at huskerdivers@prodigy.net if you'd like more information or to schedule a class. Cost of the class is just $35 and your certification is good for two years.

Tons Going On at Husker Divers!

Five Open Water Diver students completed their academic training and the first night of pool training this weekend (and a couple more signed up for next month's class!).

The Bull Shoals trip divers rolled back into town this afternoon, and they said they had a GREAT time! Visibility was some of the best they've ever seen. Can't wait 'til the July trip!

Two divers took the Cobra computer class this evening. They learned some of the theory behind how dive computers work and got lots of practice time pushing the buttons and maneuvering around their computers. Now they look forward to using them in the water!

There's a lot going on at Husker Divers. The June Open Water weekend in Kearney is jam packed with students. July brings another Bull Shoals dive trip, the lake cleanup and grilled lunch in Grand Island, and, leaving on July 31st, the first of two spearfishing and tailrace diving trips to Oahe Reservoir in South Dakota.

For both divers and non-divers, Husker Divers teaches the Medic First Aid and CPR course. This OSHA-sanctioned class is approved for workplace first aid providers. We're adding more instructors, so if you or anyone you know would like to learn these important skills, let us know and we'll schedule a class! July 6th is the next class with open spaces.

Also Husker Divers is now on Facebook! If you're on this wildly popular social networking site, be sure to look us up!

Bluegill Facts

In consideration of summertime and all the local diving action happening, highlighting some commonly seen Nebraska fish species seems like a good idea. A couple of weeks ago we featured crappie. Today's species: bluegill.

Like crappie, bluegill are one of the top five sport fish. They're not difficult to catch and are great for young anglers and other novice fishermen to target. They're a schooling fish, and once you find a school, you can often catch multiple 'gills in that area. Fishermen use a variety of baits for bluegill, including crickets, worms, corn, and dry flies in various styles.

Bluegills are flat fish with fairly small mouths. The dark spot on the gill cover flap is a key identifying feature. Bluegills have darker vertical bands on their sides, as you can see in the picture here. The males have a noticeable patch of orange on the underside, while females are more yellowish. The adult size is anywhere from 6-10 inches, and the world record was a 4 pound, 12 ounce 'gill caught in 1950.

Bluegills' main source of food is insects, which they often catch on the surface. They also eat crustaceans, small fish, and snails. If food supplies are low they may even eat some algae.

In the spring, male bluegills make nests in the bottom of the lake or pond. The nest is a shallow, round depression. Bluegills make their nests in proximity to other bluegills' nests, and a group of nests is referred to as a spawning bed. After the female lays the eggs, the male guards the nest.

A member of the sunfish family, bluegills are often referred to as "sunnies." They're also sometimes called bream. They sometimes interbreed with green sunfish, making a green sunfish/bluegill hybrid. Click here for a picture of the two fish on the Nebraska Game and Parks Fish Identification page on their website.


This information comes from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Fish Identification page on their website, thejump.net/fishlist/bluegill.htm, OutdoorAlabama.com, and the Maryland DNR website.

Ladies Only

It's been a fact of life for women: when you want to do something outside the traditional female roles, you have to sacrifice comfort and style and make do with bulky, poorly fitting men's gear. Not only did the guys' stuff not feel comfortable, but it sagged here and squeezed there and could be downright unsafe.

No more.

Ladies, the scuba diving equipment designed and manufactured for you today is high quality, fits great, and comes in colors and styles you'll feel wonderful wearing!

Today's scuba diving equipment designed specifically for women comes in colors women like, fits great - even on real women, not just supermodels, and is made with outstanding quality to meet the needs of women who really dive, including dive professionals.

Want proof? All of the women on the Husker Divers staff are using the latest women's scuba equipment, and, as Instructors and Dive Control Specialists, they put this gear through a lot of wear. It gets used:

-In the pool with student divers and Try Scuba participants, with all the chlorine, the constant ascents and descents, and constant stuffing of gear into equipment bags for transport.

-In area lakes for diver training and other events, where the equipment is exposed to sand, sun, silt, and again, packing into equipment bags for travel.

-For rescue training and readiness. All the Husker Divers staff are trained in diver rescue, and some are certified to teach the Stress & Rescue course. It is imperative that the equipment the staff uses is top-notch and absolutely dependable. The women's equipment worn by Husker Divers staff, including the Diva and Pearl i3 BCs, fits the bill. When we need to trust our equipment in cold, dark, low- or no-visibility conditions, and trust it to get both ourselves and our students or fellow divers to safety, we know it will work beautifully.

-For travel. In the warm salt water of St. Lucia, the cold, dark depths of the mine at Oronogo in Missouri, or in the tailrace below the dam at Oahe Reservoir in South Dakota, the ladies' BCs, wetsuits, and other equipment are completely reliable and comfortable.

-In all conditions. Husker Divers' December '08 Polar Bear Club dive took place with an 18-below windchill and in 36-degree water. The Pearl i3 BC performed every bit as well in those conditions as it does in the pool. At the Oronogo mine in early April, with water temps in the low 50s and depths of 90 feet, the Pearl i3 performed beautifully.

In choppy waters or calm, indoors or far from home, icy, salty, fresh or otherwise, today's women's scuba diving equipment is top-notch, looks fantastic, fits perfectly, and will give women all the comfort and confidence that excellent gear can provide. Talk to any of the Husker Divers female staff members: Donna, Linda, Beth, or Amy. They'll be glad to answer any questions you have and help you discover just the right scuba equipment for your needs.

Vandenberg Sinking on YouTube

The USS Vandenberg was sunk off Florida today to form an artificial reef. After all the months of work to prepare her for sinking, she went down in about 2 minutes. See the YouTube video of the sinking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtuGZKE3QfI

Fishy Facts

While diving in a good old Nebraska sandpit this past weekend, I had the pleasure of hovering and watching some gargantuan crappie. It's the spawning season for these fish, and they were hunkered down around the Christmas trees and tire piles. Being an outdoorsy sort along with someone who's always interested in learning something new, I decided to do a little fact-checking and see what I could learn about crappie. Here's what I discovered:

Crappie, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's Fish Identification page on their website, are one of the top five sport fish. They're fun to catch and delicious to eat (try frying 'em in olive oil with salt, pepper, and garlic 'til they're golden brown and crispy).

There are two species of crappie, the white, pictured at left, and the black, pictured below on the right. White crappie are silvery with faint black vertical bars and 5-6 spines on the dorsal fin. Black crappie are silvery with black speckles and blotches. They usually have 7-8 spines on the dorsal fin. Males of both species become darker during the spawn, and white crappies may be mistaken for black crappies. Male black crappies can turn almost entirely black during the spawn.

The crappie is a member of the sunfish family, which includes bluegill, green sunfish, bluegill/green sunfish hybrid, largemouth bass, orangespotted sunfish, pumpkinseed, redear sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass (all species found here in Nebraska).

Crappie depend heavily on sight, as opposed to smell, like some other fish species.

Both species of crappie eat small fish and aquatic insects. Largemouth bass, northerns, and walleye prey on crappie, but crappie also eat the young of these species.

The black crappie is more widely distributed than the white. Black crappies prefer deeper, cooler, clearer water than white crappies.

Crappies winter in deeper water and start moving up to shallower waters when the water temperature reaches 45-50 degrees. When surface temperatures reach the 62-65 degree range, crappie begin to spawn in shallower waters, often from 1-9 feet deep. During the summer, crappies move to deeper, cooler waters during the day, returning to shallower waters at dawn and dusk to feed.

During the spawn, crappies hold tight to structure like brush piles, shoreline riprap, docks, trees, and bridge pilings.

In southern Louisiana, the crappie is often called the Sac-a-lait, which is French for sack of milk. The name comes from the tasty white meat of this species.

Information for this article comes from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission website, the Minnesota DNR website, crappie.com, and jump.net/fishlist/crappie.htm.

New Open Water, Stress & Rescue, and Search & Recovery Divers

Congratulations to all the brand new Open Water Divers certified this past weekend at Husker Divers' private sandpit lake near Kearney! After two days of dives, exploring the lake, showing their newly acquired skills, and seeing the HUGE crappie and bass, we now have a new crop of divers and dive buddies certified and looking forward to wetting their fins again soon.

While the Open Water Divers were doing their thing, another group of divers was completing their SSI Stress & Rescue and Search & Recovery classes. Congratulations to you guys, too! These are two separate specialty classes, but when combined, the skills of each can be used to complement the other, making for a truly valuable training experience. SSI's Stress & Rescue course can be taken right after the Open Water Diver course, so if you're a newly certified diver or have never taken the Stress & Rescue course, you can get the book anytime, along with the Search & Recovery book if you'd like, and sign up for the next class. We'll be holding these two classes again on July 25th and 26th.

Gorgeous Photos from Raja Ampat

If you enjoy looking at the beauty of the underwater realm, check out these photos taken at Raja Ampat: http://www.rhkuw.com/gallery/lembehraja09/content/LembehRajaAmpat2009-037_large.html. Incredible!

Congratulations to Our Newest Instructor!

Congratulations to Greg Koellner, Husker Divers' newest Open Water Instructor! Greg, who lives in Imperial, Nebraska, has been a DiveCon for a couple of years now and has a lot of experience, not to mention great talent, with working with dive students. He's a fantastic asset to Husker Divers and makes a wonderful addition to the team. Way to go, Greg!

Congrats to New Divers from Union College!

Congratulations to the students from Union College who completed their Open Water Diver certifications this past week! These students come from as far away as Maryland, Tennessee, and California, as well as from right here in Lincoln, Nebraska. Four of them are planning to go on to training with Dive Rescue International as part of their college majors.

Again, congratulations, and we look forward to diving with you guys again in the future!

Stress & Rescue and Search & Recovery Classes Coming Up

Are you a certified Open Water Diver? Do you want to build your confidence and competence as a diver? Do you want to pursue a Master Diver or higher rating? Do you want to have fun and challenge yourself at the same time? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Stress & Rescue class is for you! Search & Recovery is a great class to take along with Stress & Rescue, and Husker Divers is offering both of these classes the weekend of May 23rd and 24th.

In the Stress & Rescue class, you'll learn to recognize stress in a fellow diver and how to deal with stress in order to prevent an incident from happening. You'll also learn how to handle a dive accident if one does occur.

The Search & Recovery class covers search patterns you can use to locate lost objects. You'll even learn to bring objects to the surface using a lift bag!

In addition to the May 23rd and 24th session, Husker Divers is offering these classes on July 25th & 26th and September 26th and 27th. Each of these classes has a book and DVD you'll need to complete before the class. Cost of the Stress & Rescue class is $165 and the cost of the Search & Recovery class is $95. These classes are held at our private sandpit lake near Kearney, Nebraska and cover two days of training and diving.

The Stress & Rescue class is required for Master Diver and all professional ratings, including DiveCon and Instructor.

New Open Water Diver

Congratulations to Katie Shoemaker on earning her Open Water Diver certification today! Katie is one of the 13 students in the Union College scuba class this semester. Because of a scheduling conflict (she leaves for her home in Ohio on Friday), Katie did her open water dives yesterday (Sunday, May 3rd) and today. She did a great job and especially enjoyed the compass navigation part of the dives.

One highlight of the day that both Katie and her instructor enjoyed happened on the surface of the lake. They were putting their fins on in the water in preparation for their second dive of the day when a bald eagle came swooping out of the sky about 40 yards away. It flared its wings, stuck its legs out ahead of it with talons spread wide, and snatched up a fish. Then it flew away, landing in a tree on the far side of the lake to enjoy its meal.

Again, congratulations, Katie!

Digital Underwater Photography Tip: Get Close

In underwater photography, close is key. You need to be as close to your subject as possible. Because the water absorbs light, the further away from your subject you are, the less light you have to work with. Remember that the path of light from your strobe is twice the distance from you to your subject, because the light must travel from the strobe to the subject, then back to your camera sensor. So get close!

Stop by Husker Divers next time you're in the neighborhood and see the photos from this winter's trips to Statia and to St. Lucia! And if you have any questions about underwater photography, we'll be happy to help you.

Top 10 Ocean Adventure Movies Revealed

When you think of an ocean-related movie, what leaps to your mind? "Jaws?" "Finding Nemo?" "Open Water?" Well, the list is official. Sort of. Click here to see the list of the top 10 ocean adventure movies. Is your favorite on the list? If so, or if you have another movie you'd nominate, leave a comment and let us know! Movie marathon, anyone?

Flashing, Mucus-spewing Green Fireworms Photographed

Females of a species of marine fireworm secrete a glowing mucus coinciding with the moon's phases to attract mates, according to an April 15th article on National Geographic news online. Juveniles of the species also secrete the phosphorescent goo, but in flashes, possibly to startle predators, the article says. Check it out and view some outstanding photography of the worms by clicking on the link above.

Want to learn more about fireworms and other fascinating marine life? Stop by Husker Divers and pick up a copy of the book Reef Creature Identification - Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Ned DeLoach and Paul Humann. This book is a field guide of sorts to the critters that inhabit our favorite dive locations. There's species information galore, beautiful photography, and even a list in the back so you can check off the species you've personally seen. The fireworm section, by the way, begins on page 140.

There's a book on reef fish and one on reef coral, too. See them all at Husker Divers!

Try Adaptive Scuba Diving!

On Sunday, May 31st from 5-8 p.m. at the Downtown YMCA in Lincoln, Nebraska, Husker Divers is holding a Try Scuba event for adaptive divers! Our trained, caring staff will take individuals with physical disabilities into the pool on scuba. Participants will get to experience the weightlessness and freedom of being underwater with scuba equipment. We can safely accommodate a wide range of physical disabilities, including quadriplegia, paraplegia, amputation and blindness, among others.

Husker Divers' goal with our Adaptive Scuba Program is to offer physically challenged individuals opportunities to dive and travel in the mainstream scuba diving world. We are a chapter of Dive Pirates, a national, non-profit organization which works to equip and train disabled divers.

Husker Divers will provide all the equipment for participants in the May 31st Try Scuba (participants should wear a swimsuit and bring a towel and dry clothes for afterwards). Pre-registration is required as a medical form must be filled out, and a doctor's signature will be required in some cases for participation. The cost is $20 per person, and all proceeds will go to the Husker Divers Adaptive Assistance fund, which is used for equipping, training, and providing dive travel opportunities for adaptive divers.

If you would like more information about the May 31st event or about adaptive diving in general, please contact Joe Tyler at Husker Divers at 402-420-6338 or at huskerdivers@prodigy.net.

What Fish Are You?

Take this fun little survey and discover what fish you are (or would be, if you were a fish). Then post a comment and let us know your results!

http://www.worldwildlife.org/waveforward/fishGame.html

By the way, I'm a swordfish!

Husker Divers Spare Air Stimulus Package

Got air? You should have plenty if you monitor your guage and follow your training. In the event that you do find yourself out of air at depth and need a source of air until you can safely reach the surface, having a Spare Air attached to your scuba unit can be a lifesaver. It can also instill peace of mind, knowing that you always have another option to get air whenever you're underwater.

Husker Divers staff believe in Spare Air, which is why you'll see one on every staff member's equipment. The Spare Air unit is easy to use, small enough to be out of the way yet readily accessible if needed. It's a completely redundant system, with its own regulator and purge valve. You can even fill your Spare Air yourself from any full scuba tank before you begin your dive. If you find yourself out of air at depth, the Spare Air will allow you to get to the surface and safety - it's the ultimate buddy!

Husker Divers is offering a Spare Air Stimulus Package right now! The Spare Air comes in two sizes, and the package deal gives you the choice of either the 300 or the 170. The package also includes:

- Holster
- Safety Leash
- Refill Adapter
- Travel Kit (clear plastic case with spare O rings, regulator and bottle caps for travel)
- FREE first year service!

The cost for this entire package is just $275, which is a substantial savings over the regular retail price. This package price is good until May 31, 2009, so pick up your very own Spare Air and be ready for a safe and fun open water diving season!

Visit SpareAir.com for more information on the Spare Air.

Oronogo Trip Report April 3-5, 2009

On April 3-5, eight of us went to Oronogo to kick off the local open water season (and to close out the season for our shop's Polar Bear Club). Joe Tyler, owner of Husker Divers, and three of us from the Lincoln area drove down together, and the other five came from Imperial, Nebraska. We planned on doing one dive on Friday, three dives on Saturday, and one on Sunday. However, due to the weather forecast for Nebraska on Sunday, as well as the fact that it was 75 degrees and sunny at Oronogo on Saturday and scheduled to be in the low 40s there on Sunday, we did an extra dive on Saturday and skipped Sunday's dive.

After checking in to the hotel in Joplin and dropping off our non-diving luggage, we arrived at the gate to the lake on Friday around 3 p.m. They didn't open until 4, they told us, so we parked and waited, watching John, the owner, fiddling with some 55 gallon drums full of cement. Around 3:30 they let us in, and we found our gearing-up spot. Inside the building, there are two computers to check in on - you just type in your name and other info, including your diving level, certification number and agency, and your liability release prints out behind the counter. Once that was done and we'd paid, we walked over to where the parking area overlooks the lake and got a briefing of where things were. Then we geared up for our first dive.

All but two in our group were wearing drysuits. Those who weren't were wearing the new Aqualung 8/7 suit, and they both later said they didn't get overly cold all weekend. For our first dive that afternoon, we headed left from the entry point, following the mine road down to the airplane at about 45 feet. You can see where it is on the surface by the blue buoy marking it. From the airplane we continued down the mine road, which switches back and parallels the shore while descending to the "doors" of some underwater caverns. These caverns are cutouts in the side of the quarry. Due to lower than expected visibility, we could see the mouths of the caverns when we came to them, but not super clearly. There was a large dark area and the wall of the quarry turned inward. You have to be on your toes and paying attention, because if you're not, it would be pretty easy to get inside one of the caverns and get disoriented. We reached a depth of 89 feet on that dive before turning back for the surface. We didn't see a lot, but it was a good orientation to the quarry and gave us a taste of what to expect on Saturday.

Friday evening we descended upon a place called Turtleshead Raw Bar for supper. Driving up to it, we saw a turquoise-colored cinder-block looking building standing by itself, and we wondered what we were getting into. As it turned out, we all loved the place! I had crab cakes with sweet potato fries and slaw, and it was all really good. One of the guys got some oysters on the half shell for an appetizer, enjoyed those thoroughly, and then proceeded to expertly wipe out a large plate of king crab legs. The food was great, and the band, called Too Mothers Left (yes, that's spelled correctly), was fantastic. We were seated right in front of the band, which played a lot of older hits, like Eric Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd stuff.

We arrived a little before the gate opened at 9 on Saturday, and a couple of other vehicles were there with another group. After signing the liability forms for the day, we geared up and hit the water. The water temp on the surface was 52 by my Cobra computer, and the temp at depth was 46. Over the course of the day we found several of the underwater attractions, including the pile of cars, the airplane we'd seen on Friday (complete with a Halloween pumpkin candy bucket in the back and a skeleton hanging in the pilot's seat area), three training platforms, and some boats. The gorilla reposing on the bottom was a hit, and looked even better when several of our divers had hung the obligatory strings of colorful beads around his neck. Joe found a coffee mug nearby and gave that to the gorilla, too, so when we left him he looked quite comfortable and very stylish.

Not everyone did the fourth dive of the day on Saturday afternoon, but I paired up with Mark from our group to go find what was being called the "air cave." The opening to this cave was only 10 feet below the surface, and we found it by swimming along the wall and looking for the usual dark area indicating one of the caverns. When we saw it, we switched on our dive lights and cautiously swam inside, not sure how far in we needed to go. Once inside we swam upwards and almost instantly topped out on a beautiful, turquoise surface lit by the daylight coming up through the water from the mouth of the cave.

In spite of the drysuit, it felt really good to get back into the sun and 75 degree temperatures topside after that fourth dive of the day, and I felt great about the weekend's dives. It was my first time to Oronogo, and only my fourth dive outing in a drysuit, so I gained some great experience and had a wonderful time.

The grounds at Oronogo leave something to be desired, aesthetically. However, they've got good air and nitrox for your tanks, and the diving is fun and about as easy or challenging as you want to make it. New divers can follow the string and rope trail to the training platforms, the computer workstation, some cars, and the airplane and never get too deep for comfort. More experienced divers, and even tech divers, can go deep, even beyond recreational depths if equipped and trained to do so. It's cold, and as I mentioned, on this trip the vis wasn't as good as usual (only 10-12 feet as opposed to the usual 30-40 below the thermocline). Thus it's definitely something you want to dive with someone experienced if you're new to diving, and an orientation to the site is a must if you haven't been there before.

We had a GREAT trip with a super fun group of divers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. What a great way to end the Polar Bear season and start off the new open water season!

Thanks to Rob and Jon, divers from Imperial, for the pics of the gorilla, air cave, and computer posted here! Rob and Jon didn't make it into the group picture at the top of this post because they were diving the air cave when it was taken, but were fun to have on the trip (Rob is the one who demolished that pile of crab legs so expertly at Turtleshead on Friday night).

Oronogo Diving

Eight of us are in Joplin, Missouri right now, having done our first dive of this trip this afternoon at Oronogo. This dive location is a former lead and zinc mine, and has depths of 210 feet. On today's dive we explored the airplane at around 45 feet, reached a max depth of around 70 feet, then found a couple of boats on our way back to the entry point. Water temp at the surface was 52 degrees, and the temp at depth was around 48. Vis was about 10-12 feet; a bit lower than expected but not a problem.

After the dive, we headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up, then went to eat at Turtleshead Raw Bar. A terrific band called Too Mothers Left (yes, that's the correct spelling) was playing, and a good time was had by all.

We're planning to do three dives tomorrow, Saturday. Can't wait!

What's the Ugliest Fish?

Dive magazines are full of gorgeous photos of beautiful and fascinating fish. Look at the pics brought home by any dive traveler and you'll see photo after photo of colorful undersea life. Not all fish have looks we want to hang on our walls, however. Outdoor Life magazine has a photo feature on their website with pics of 14 of the ugliest fish you may ever see. Check it out by clicking here.

What's the ugliest fish you've ever seen? Most remarkable for some other reason? Let us know! Post a comment!

Dive Pirates Fundraiser a Huge Hit

Dive Pirates is a national non-profit organization that exists to teach physically disabled people to dive. Did you know that Husker Divers is a chapter of Dive Pirates? That's right, Husker Divers has an adaptive scuba program, and we've partnered with Dive Pirates to work with our area's disabled community and get them in the water on scuba. Joe Tyler, owner of Husker Divers, is a certified adaptive scuba instructor, and several of the Husker Divers staff have been trained as assistants.

Dive Pirates recently held their annual fundraiser, the Pirate's Ball, in Houston, Texas, and raised over $50,000! You can read an article on the event by clicking here.

As you might imagine, it takes a lot of time, energy, and funding to equip and train a physically disabled diver. Whether they're a quadriplegic, an amputee, blind, or whatever the nature of their disability, all enjoy the freedom and weightlessness of being underwater. You can help! Call, e-mail, or stop by the dive shop and talk to us about adaptive divers currently in our program. If you'd like to help support these intrepid individuals, both good quality dive equipment and funds are needed and appreciated. If you visit the Dive Pirates website, you can easily donate to the Husker Divers chapter by clicking on the Donate button. You can even score some sweet pirate booty when you give!

It's Here! The Schedule for This Summer's Open Water Training!

Here it is, the dates we've all been waiting for. You can now put this summer's open water training schedule on your calendar! Can't wait to see you in Kearney!

May 23-24: The first Open Water certification dives of the season, plus Stress & Rescue and Search and Recovery classes
June 27 & 28
July 25 & 26
Aug 22 & 23

If you've completed your classroom and pool training and need to sign up for your open water weekend, please call or stop by the store. We have a limit to the number we can take each weekend, so please don't wait; the spaces do fill up. Also, it's important that you dive with us on the weekend you sign up for because we schedule our staff based on the number of students registered.

Husker Divers uses one of two different private sandpit lakes for each of our training weekends. The one pictured above is Broadfoot Lake.

Remember, if you're already a certifed diver, you're welcome to come out and dive the lake whenever we're there. And don't forget to contact the store about any specialty classes you'd like to complete over the summer. In a previous article in this blog, we told you about this year's Master Diver Challenge. Completing those Continuing Education courses and logging the required number of dives will enable you to complete the Challenge and maybe even win a dive trip! So come on! Let's go diving!

Kick Off the Season with a Trip to Oronogo

Are you ready to get started on your open water dives this season? Why not start by joining Husker Divers on a trip to Oronogo, near Joplin, Missouri?

Oronogo, located about 11 miles from Joplin, is one of the largest open pit lead and zinc mines in the world. Mining ceased in 1950, and water from natural springs and rain filled the pit. Divers from all over the midwest now enjoy the clear water, unique underwater terrain, and depths down to 230 feet. Click here for the link to the Oronogo dive trip on the Husker Divers website. While you're there, check out the link to the list of interesting sites you'll find in the mine!

Vis is around 20-30 feet, depending on depth, and water temps stay at 45-50 degrees below the thermocline. Surface temps reach into the 70s in the summer months.

For this trip, we'll drive down on Friday and make one dive Friday afternoon. We'll do three dives on Saturday, then one dive on Sunday before heading for home. There's a dive shop on the property for air fills, and nitrox is available.

The package includes:
Two nights at the Super 8 in Joplin, based on double occupancy
Air fills for 5 dives (there's an additional cost for nitrox)
Gate fee for three days.
Cost per Diver: $175. A deposit of $75 will reserve your space.
Transportation and food are not included.

Please reserve your space by Saturday, March 21st if you plan to join us for this trip. Stop by the store or call us at 402-420-6338.

The Oronogo site is deep and, below the thermocline, chilly, so in order to dive on this trip, you'll need to have a minumum of 20 logged dives and be comfortable with diving in colder water. If you have any questions, please contact Joe at Husker Divers - phone: 402-420-6338.

Seward High School Try Scuba

Husker Divers staff had a fun morning of Try Scubas today at the Union College pool in Lincoln. Seward High School students, 49 of them, descended on the pool shortly before 10 a.m. to don scuba gear and try scuba diving for the first time.

Dan, Amy, and Beth were the dive leaders for this event, and introduced the students to scuba a few at a time. After an introduction to the equipment and a few basic instructions, the kids spent most of their time on the bottom of the pool, experimenting with the weightlessness of being underwater. Toy torpedos zipped through the deep end of the pool as the kids played catch and tried to beat their fellow divers to those torpedos that evaded capture and landed on the bottom.

Afterwards, Joe Tyler, owner of Husker Divers, and Matt Rubenthaler, a diver who was an invaluable help with this event, along with Amy, Beth, and Dan, all said how great this group of students was to work with. All the kids were polite, had great attitudes, and seemed to have a great time. Husker Divers thoroughly enjoyed working with this great group of students!

Husker Divers and Scuba BSA

On Sunday, March 1st two of our staff led a Scuba BSA session. Scuba BSA is a non-certification program, and participants do not earn a merit badge. However, they do earn a Scuba BSA patch (pictured at left) they can wear on their swimming trunks to show the world what they've accomplished. They also learn valuable skills and get a thorough introduction to scuba diving, which will benefit them should they ever decide to go on to pursue certification.

Six Boy Scouts and their adult troop leader from Troop 812 in Omaha drove to Lincoln and met us at the Northeast YMCA. Before entering the water, the guys learned about the buddy system, DCS and other potential diving dangers, and the basics of scuba equipment. Once in the water, they learned some of the hand signals divers use underwater before ducking under the surface to take their first breaths on scuba.

In-water skills included basic mask clearing, two methods of clearing the regulator, and regulator retrieval from behind the shoulder. Participants also had to breathe from an alternate air source for 30 seconds. There are 12 requirements for the Scuba BSA program, which can be found here.

Once the scuba skills were learned, the group headed for the deep end, where they got to spend a few minutes swimming around, practicing buoyancy control and just having fun breathing underwater. All the participants had a great time, according to troop leader Jeff Saffles. "The boys talked all the way home about how fun it was," Mr. Saffles e-mailed us.

Beth and Amy, the Husker Divers staff who conducted the session, had a great time, too, and can't wait for the next Scuba BSA program. If you know of a Boy Scout troop who would like to schedule a Scuba BSA program with Husker Divers, please contact the store at 402-420-6338 or at huskerdivers@prodigy.net.

Know, Really Know, Your Dive Equipment

Does your depth gauge employ a bourdon tube? Do you know how to stop your second stage from free-flowing? Should you own your own container of silicone grease? Can you swap out a mouthpiece or repair a hole in your wetsuit?

Get to really know your dive equipment (and impress the fins off other divers with your knowledge) by taking a fun and super-informative Equipment class with Husker Divers! We'll tear down various pieces of dive equipment so you can learn how they work from the inside out. Learn how to take care of your equipment - everything from bags to BCs. You'll even learn how to do basic field repairs on gear issues that crop up at your dive site.

Just swing by the dive shop to register and pick up the book so you can have the end-of-chapter questions answered before the next class. The cost is just $95, which gets you expert, hands-on instruction, information on all sorts of dive equipment, a specialty certification, and a FREE Save-a-Dive Kit!

Divers know that diving is an equipment-intensive activity. Don't go another season without knowing how your equipment works. It'll make you a better all-around diver, and who doesn't want that?

Aqualung Promotions

Thinking of picking up some new dive equipment for this year? Whether you're looking to upgrade older equipment or you're looking for your first set of gear, Aqualung has two hard-to-beat promotions going on now.

First, when you purchase a new Aqualung regulator, BC, or computer and take any class, including Open Water Diver and any continuing education classes, you'll receive Aqualung's terrific AirSource 3 FREE! That's a $150 value! The AirSource 3 is used by many of the Husker Divers staff and is a superb breathing alternate 2nd stage. Get streamlined and eliminate that "octopus" alternate second stage - the AirSource 3 is an integrated alternate and is your inflate/deflate hose, all rolled into one.

Second, when you purchase any Aqualung regulator with a retail price of $500 or more, you'll receive a $100 instant rebate! Regulators with a retail price of less than $500 will receive an instant rebate of $50.

These offers cannot be combined. Stop by the store next time you're in the neighborhood and check out the goods!

Four Divers-in-Training Complete Academic, Pool Requirements

Congratulations to Cathy, Amy, Dawn, and Emily! They've completed all their academic and pool requirements for Open Water Diver certification! Now they just need to do their open water dives and they'll be certified open water divers! Way to go, ladies!

SSI Announces the 2009 Master Diver Challenge!

Scuba Schools International, otherwise known as SSI, has announced their 2009 Master Diver Challenge. Interested divers can sign up for the challenge and, if they complete the requirements before the end of this year, will be eligible to win a dive trip!

Why pursue the Master Diver rating? Because it's the highest non-professional rating in scuba diving. When you're an SSI Master Diver, you've demonstrated that you have the diving knowledge and skills to make you worthy of the title of Master Diver. Divemasters at resorts and on liveaboards recognize that and often are willing to take a Master Diver to dive sites and underwater places that less experienced divers may not get to visit.

Here are some of the details of the 2009 challenge:

Prizes include a 7 night dive trip for two to the Cayman Islands sponsored by Divetech @ Cobalt Coast Resort, a 7 night dive trip for two to Utila sponsored by Laguna Beach Resort and Utila Dive Ventures, a t-shirt, a Master Diver patch, and a personalized diploma!

To meet the Challenge, divers will need to complete some milestones. SSI's Specialty Diver rating is 2 completed specialties plus 12 logged dives. SSI's Advanced Open Water Diver rating is 4 completed specialties plus 24 logged dives. Finally, the Master Diver rating is Diver Stress and Rescue plus the Advanced Open Water Diver rating and 50 logged dives.

When you take the Challenge, once you've earned your Master Diver rating, you'll receive a Master Diver patch, an SSI Master Diver diploma, a Master Diver t-shirt, and the chance to win one of the trips. Also, if Diver Stress and Rescue has already been taken before you sign up for the 2009 Master Diver Challenge, you're required to complete another specialty. All requirements must be met before December 31, 2009 in order for you to qualify for prizes.

Husker Divers would like to help you meet your goal, so we're offering 10% off your specialties when you sign up for the SSI 2009 Master Diver Challenge! See the store for details.

Remember, SSI does not dictate which specialties you have to take. You can personalize the program and take those specialties that match your diving interests! If you're interested in wreck diving in the Great Lakes, you might take wreck diving, drysuit diving, deep diving, and navigation, for example. If photography is your cup of tea, you might take Underwater Photography, Buoyancy, Fish Identification, and Nitrox. It's up to you!

Stop by Husker Divers when you're ready to sign up for the 2009 Master Diver Challenge. We'll have the form for you to fill out and we'll be happy to help you choose the right specialties to meet your needs. Good luck, and happy diving!

Two New Instructors Certified

Husker Divers now has two brand new instructors! Dan Stalder and Beth Sorensen completed their Instructor Training Course and Instructor Evaluation today, February 12th. Both said they enjoyed the course very much, but were also significantly challenged by it. They're looking forward to working with new Open Water Diver students!

SSI and Husker Divers Now Offer Online Scuba Classes

Husker Divers now has the classroom portion of Open Water Diver certification available online! Just go to www.huskerdivers.com and click on Classes on the left. Click on the SSI icon to go straight to the SSI online training page.

You'll still be able to work with the professional dive staff at Husker Divers, but those who live farther away or whose schedules make a classroom day inconvenient can benefit by completing the classroom training on your own time, on your own schedule. Whether you live in Omaha or Imperial, Husker Divers' online classroom will help you meet your goal to become a certified scuba diver!

When you decide to complete the classroom portion of the Open Water Diver training online, you'll need to stop by Husker Divers' shop to register and for an equipment orientation.

Of course, if you prefer to take the class in the traditional format, Husker Divers will continue to offer our professional classroom training. Contact Husker Divers at 402-420-6338 or via e-mail at huskerdivers@prodigy.net with any questions or comments about all our scuba training opportunities!

February 1 Group Try Scuba

Husker Divers now has a group Try Scuba program on the first Sunday of each month. In January we had several members of the Omaha Hiking Club join us in the pool for an off-season adventure. On February 1st we had employees of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and their families in the pool. Our youngest participant was 10, and there were several high school-aged kids, as well as adults.

We're scheduling groups for Try Scuba opportunities in advance, so if you are in a group or know of some folks who'd like to experience scuba, please contact Husker Divers. This is a great event for church groups, corporate groups, team building, youth groups, families, book groups, family reunions - anybody who can get some people together and get to the pool!

In a Try Scuba session, the professional dive staff at Husker Divers will provide all the equipment and know-how. All you'll need to bring is a swimsuit and towel. We'll introduce you to the basics of scuba and show you how to breathe underwater! The minimum age is 10, and there is no upper age limit. Husker Divers uses a private pool located just west of Lincoln, Nebraska.

To register or for more information, please contact Husker Divers at 402-420-6338 or e-mail us at huskerdivers@prodigy.net.