Smithsonian Ocean Site

The Smithsonian has a very cool website with all kinds of fascinating info on the ocean! Visit www.ocean.si.edu to see all the goodies and get your ocean fix!

Website Lets You "Watch" Marine Life Movements

Topp.org, the website of Tagging for Pacific Pelagics, allows viewers to "see" a variety of individual marine animals and track their movements. Track the movements of salmon sharks, shortfin mako sharks, northern elephant seals, and a black footed albatross, to name a few.

On the site, click on the icon of an animal to learn that individual's name. Click on the logo in the upper left corner of the screen to view the movements of the animal in almost real-time. You'll also see data on the surface temperature where the animal was swimming, as well as other data scientists are collecting with this ongoing project.

Also on the topp.org site, you can read up on the latest ocean news, follow the blog, see the photo of the day, and much more! For anyone interested in the ocean and marine life, this is a fun and informative site to check out.

Passport Fees to Increase

According to the May/June 2010 issue of Dive Center Business magazine, U.S. passport fees will be going up in the near future. The article says that the State Department did a cost-of-service study in 2009 and proposed the higher fees based on that study.

As an example of some of the price increases, an adult first-time passport will go from $100 to $135, and a renewal will jump from $75 to 110. Passports for those age under age 16 will go from $60 to $105.

No date has yet been set for the changes to go into effect. Please visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html for updated information.

Jaws Shark Found in Junkyard

Well, it's not THE shark from Jaws, but it's a fourth mechanical shark made on the same mold as the original three that were used in the movie. The fourth one, named Bruce just like its predecessors, was recently located in a Los Angeles junkyard not far from Universal Studios. A 3D remake of Jaws is being considered, so the find came at just the right time.

Click here for a link to the full story.

Trips on the Schedule for 2010

The Belize trip was a great success, the Curacao trip was a blast, and the St. Lucia trip is going on right now. Husker Divers has all sorts of trips still to come in 2010, with some closer to home and others further afield. Check your calendar and see if one of these trips will work for you!

Bull Shoals, June 11-14. Bull Shoals offers something for everyone, whether you're a brand new diver needing your open water dives for certification or you're an experienced diver looking for fun and adventure. We dive from pontoon boats during the day, with multiple dives per day at a variety of sites.

Nassau, Bahamas July 17-21. This is a closer-to-home trip than our winter Caribbean trips, and features stellar diving. It's also a bit shorter trip, so you can make a long weekend of it and not have to schedule a whole week away.

Oahe Reservior, Pierre, South Dakota, August 6-9 and August 13-16. This trip has become so popular that we've taken two groups to South Dakota for the past few years! During the day you'll dive and spearfish from pontoon boats. At night, drop in to the Missouri River in the tailrace (the water flowing out of the dam) and let the current carry you downstream while your dive light shows you all the fish!

La Paz, Mexico, October 16-23. This is the trip to take if you want to play with sea lions and see lots of other larger marine life!

Cozumel, Mexico, January 22-29, 2011. Cozumel is a premier dive spot, and we're excited to be returning there! This trip is on the books, but details are still to be finalized. Stay tuned!

Dominica, February 19-27, 2011. This is a beautiful place to dive, and we're also super excited to be returning there! This trip is also on the books and awaiting finalization of details, so stay tuned!

Belize Trip a Great Success!

From January 23-30, twenty two travelers with Husker Divers went to Belize for a week of diving, sunshine, sand, and relaxation. The divers saw dolphins, stingrays, nurse sharks, eels, and a wide assortment of other marine life each morning when they went out on the boats for two dives. A night dive on Wednesday night was a hit, as well.

The three non-divers on the trip enjoyed relaxing on the beach and at the restaurant at Ramon's Village, where the group stayed. Shopping in San Pedro was also a hit, along with multiple options for meals at restaurants along the beach.

For you divers on the trip needing dive sites, they include the following:
Sunday: Shark Ray Alley (snorkeling), Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Mermaid's Lair
Monday: Buena Vista, Ramon's Canyons
Tuesday: Hol Chan Canyon, Piller Coral
Wednesday: Tackle Box, Cypress Reef, Hol Chan Marine Reserve (night dive)
Thursday: Esmerelda Canyons (chumming for Hulk the Eel and nurse sharks), B & D (Barry and Dixie)

Thanks to all who went on this trip! If you didn't have a chance to supply your name and contact info for the post-trip picture party, please contact the dive store or Linda with that info so we can contact you with the time and date of the party.

Caribbean Night

On Saturday, March 6th from 8-midnight, wear your LOUDEST Caribbean shirt and join us at First Avenue, located at 1st and Cornhusker in Lincoln, for a FUN evening of gambling (with "funny money" designed by us), eating, and Caribbean music. You'll receive LOTS AND LOTS of fun "Caribbean money" to "gamble" with. We'll have roulette, 21, craps, etc. We'll even have our own Caribbean disc jockey!

Since there's no real money and no actual prizes (gotta keep things legal), there is no age limit; bring the family! All proceeds will go to Dive Pirates, a non-profit organization of which Husker Divers is a chapter. Dive Pirates brings adaptive divers, which are divers with physical disabilities, into the mainstream diving community. Funds raised go to equip and train disabled divers, including war veterans who've lost a limb or have some other physical disability. ALL TICKETS are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

Get your tickets for just $20 in advance from Husker Divers staff members or at the dive shop. Tickets will be $25 at the door. Donations are welcome if you're unable to attend this event. Also, if you have a business or know someone who does, and you or your business would like to contribute, we'll be sure to get your name out there and let people know about your business!

For more info, please contact the dive store at 402-420-6338 or at huskerdivers@prodigy.net. See you March 6th!!

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.