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mercredi, janvier 27, 2010

SUDS -Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba

For Immediate Release:

S.U.D.S. Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Center is designed to help improve the lives of injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. SUDS is a 501 (c3) non-profit organization.

Divers Discount Florida, with volunteers from South Florida Divers, Inc is sponsoring the Fort Lauderdale SUDS Flea Market to raise funds for our disabled heroes - March 13 - 14, 2010. Help them achieve their goal of raising more than $50,000 US - all proceeds go directly to SUDS.

Event Details:
Come and greet our soldiers! Hours are 10am – 4pm Saturday and Sunday. Throughout the two days, new scuba equipment will be auctioned to the highest bidders via a live silent auction and online at our website. Prizes in the auction will total over $60,000 US. Gift certificates from restaurants, stores, certification agencies, sporting events, charter boats, and diving equipment will be part of two raffles. Prizes totaling over $5000 US will be awarded to the winning tickets. Plus, a huge selection of donated quality used gear will be sold at the flea market for a fraction of cost. The SUDS Flea Market has everything from tanks to trips. View the SUDS Flea Market Poster (PDF)

SUDS Flea Market Location:
2071 S. Federal Hwy
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 3316

The SUDS Flea Market will host a party on Saturday, March 13 immediately following the day's activities. View the SUDS Party Event Flyer (PDF). The Flea Market staff, South Florida Divers and the general public will be celebrating with the soldiers at the Downtowner Saloon on the New River from 8-11pm. Tickets for the buffet will be available at the SUDS Flea Market the day of the event for $30 US per person and online at the event website: www.sudsfleamarket.com. Come celebrate with us!

SUDS Flea Market Party Location:
Downtowner Saloon
10 South New River Drive East
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Sponsor a Hero:
We are accepting donations of new and used snorkeling and scuba equipment for the SUDS Flea Market. You can donate cash with your credit card, prizes travel, entertainment, recreation and dining gift certificates. Please show your support for our wounded warriors. Call us today +1 800.PLAN FUN +1 800.PLAN FUN.

More Sponsorship* Opportunities...
Silver Star Sponsors ($500 US donation) will have their logo posted as a Silver Star Sponsor and on the homepage of the SUDS Flea Market website with a link to their website. Silver Star Sponsors may participate at the Flea Market with a table display to promote their business.

Bronze Star Sponsors ($250 US donation) will have their logo posted as a Bronze Star Sponsor on the SUDS Flea Market website.

Purple Heart Sponsors ($100 US donation) will have their name listed as a Purple Heart Sponsor on the SUDS Flea Market website.

*All donations are tax deductible. The proceeds from all areas of this fundraising effort go to SUDS. SUDS is a 501C Charity.

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samedi, janvier 23, 2010

Aid for Haiti

PADI Family Encourages Support for Victims of Haiti

The PADI family extends heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti as they struggle to recover from the devastating effects of a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

A tight-knit, global community, PADI Members and Divers are contacting PADI Offices around the world offering help and support to those fighting to survive in the quake’s aftermath.

Right now, what the people of Haiti need most is food, clean drinking water, medical attention and shelter. The PADI organization believes the fastest way to deliver this much needed aid is to donate directly to relief efforts familiar with helping people in this region. Therefore, PADI Offices are encouraging divers worldwide to donate directly to organizations currently responding to the Haiti disaster.

If you are seeking to provide support to the victims of the Haiti earthquake, contact the charity of your choice or view a list of charities currently involved in Haitian earthquake relief efforts at charitywatch.org.

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vendredi, novembre 13, 2009

2009 Society Benefits Coming to an End

Join the club...padidivingsociety.com
It’s that time of the year again… use your 2009 PADI Diving Society benefits to purchase gifts for family, friends and your dive buddies, find great deals on traveling for the holidays, and take advantage of your 2009 benefits before the New Year.

If you’re not a Society member – join today and take advantage of these great ways to save in 2009:

Make hotel reservations for your holiday getaway

Take advantage of your Choice Hotels benefit– a 15 percent discount at over 5,800 participating Comfort Inn^®, Comfort Suites^®, Quality^®, Sleep Inn^®, Clarion^®, MainStay Suites^®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel^®, Econo Lodge^® and Rodeway Inn^® brand hotels and Ascend Collection^® properties worldwide. Choice Privileges^® members can enjoy additional savings* and don’t forget to get Choice Hotels^® gift cards for family and friends this holiday season!

Give the gift of art

Receive 10 – 25 percent on selected artwork from Rogest and Wyland.

Don’t worry about who’s picking you up from the airport

Save on your next car rental - society members will receive special rental benefits for the rest of the year. View the coupon for AVIS Worldwide.

Capture every underwater moment this holiday season

Purchase a new underwater camera and housing for you or your dive buddy – Society members can take advantage of rebates from ..Olympus.. and SeaLife. Plus, check out the online directory to see if your local PADI Dive Center or Resort is offering an benefits on the PADI Digital Underwater Photography Course.

Convenience your dive buddy to go diving with you this winter

Purchase a new DUI drysuit and get a Free DUI StretchLiner.

Taking the kids to Disneyworld?

Why not explore the living seas with Epcot Aqua Tours and Epcot Dive Quest? Orlando Florida Society member can save 10 percent on admission.

All 2009 offers are currently posted on PADI Diving Society's online benefits directory and will expire 31 December 2009. The good news is – most offers continue in 2010, plus PADI Diving Society has new Society benefits from: Tusa, Zeagle, BARE Sports, Pinnacle, Downtown Denver Aquarium, Downtown Aquarium of the Pacific, Miss Scuba and More!

Discover new adventures and dive buddies in 2010 with PADI Diving Society. Enjoy additional savings and information on dive gear and travel from PADI Diving Society Member-only publications; Sport Diver, Sport Diver UK, or Scuba Diver AustralAsia magazine.***

*Choice Privileges^® members can earn points towards FREE room nights, airline rewards and more wonderful redemption offers while taking advantage of the PADI Diving Society discount. Just be sure to reference both the PADI Diving Society Special Rate Identification 00800683 and Choice Privileges member number when making your reservation. Not a member? Sign up to be a Choice Privileges member by going to www.choiceprivileges.com/signup/PADIDS.

**Some rebates and savings valid only for residents of the United States and Canada. See the terms and conditions for each offer.
***Magazine publications vary by region

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mardi, novembre 03, 2009

Meet the Winner of the GO Pro Challenge
Humeur actuelle :

aventureux

Read about how Paul Leland Faulstich III, last year’s Go Pro Challenge winner, left a career in banking, became a PADI Pro and racked up enough points to take home the DOXA dive watch in the 2008 Go PRO Challenge Professional Rating contest.

Interview with IDC Staff Instructor Paul Leland Faulstich III of Grove Scuba, Coconut Grove, Florida

Paul's Story: I grew up on an island in Ocean City, Maryland and was very active in water sports and boating. Diving was never a big sport in Ocean City and when we went on trips it was always just easier to go snorkeling. Then, as I got older, it was always on my “list” of things I wanted to accomplish, but it wasn’t until I moved in with my future wife - PADI Assistant Instructor Maaike Petrie - and she told me about all the great diving she had done as a child in the Red Sea. I finally realized that I needed to cross scuba diving off my list. Maaike signed me up for the PADI Open Water certification course at Ocean Enterprises in San Diego - and I was hooked. I worked my way up to PADI Rescue Diver and had dreams of diving as a part time job, but couldn’t figure out how to fit it into my busy schedule...until now.

Why did you decide to Go PRO?

We moved to Miami so my wife could finish her graduate degree in Marine Geology and I thought I would pay her back for getting me certified. My luck, William (Bill) Lamp’l, a PADI Master Instructor, opened a new PADI Dive Center - Grove Scuba in Coconut Grove, Florida - a block away from my house; I signed us up for the PADI Divemaster course and Bill and I became good friends. At that time, I was working for Citibank, but the bank industry was crashing. I saw an opportunity to work toward my instructor rating and decided to pursue diving with the new goal of one day opening my own dive center.

How did you accomplish so much so quickly?

Honestly, I would have probably stopped at Open Water Scuba Instructor in 2008 if not for the Go PRO Challenge. Bill and I sat down in May after I finished my IDC with Dixie Diver’s under PADI Course Director Arilton Pavan and realized with the busy schedule we had planned for last summer, I could hit the high mark of 175 certifications. Then I came up with a six month plan to finish certain certifications each month so I could stay on track. It’s funny; Iactually did two more specialties, Equipment Specialist (completed at DEMA) and Handicapped Scuba Instructor, which I didn’t even apply for the PADI rating.

What has the Go PRO Challenge experience meant to you?

It made me realize the importance of setting a goal, writing it down and then sharing it with everyone so they can help you along the way.

What rating did you enjoy the most?

I would have to say my IDC Staff rating, with PADI Course Director Richard Harley from Scuba Emporium. He has certified more than 1,000 PADI Instructors and in my opinion, added so much beyond what you learn in a typical IDC.

What do you see in your future as a PADI Pro?

I plan on continuing to pursue dive training as a career and become a PADI Course Director. People are so concerned about the economy and the world nowadays; if we can offer an escape, even if only one tank at a time, then we can all get through this to better times.

Are you excited about getting the DOXA dive watch?

I didn’t do this for the watch. In fact, I am actually giving the watch away to Bill for helping me get all the certifications. If it were not for the conversation we had in May, I most likely would not have even attempted the challenge. Bill is working towards his goal of becoming a PADI Course Director* and he felt that having this goal for both me and the shop would be a good stepping stone and measuring stick for what Grove Scuba and its instructors were capable of. Because of his dedication and commitment to the PADI system of diver education and his passion for the sport of diving, I feel it’s only fitting to give him the watch and have him share in this distinct honor of being a part of the Go PRO Challenge.

Interested in the 2009 Professional Rating Contest? Visit padi.com/gpc

*As of 23 July 2009 Bill Lamp'l did receive his PADI Course Director Rating

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vendredi, octobre 09, 2009

Vote for your PADI Diving Society Photo!
Humeur actuelle :

bienheureux

Thank you to all participants! Your response has been overwhelming.

In the past, images for the PADI Diving Society membership card have either been generated from PADI offices’ internal collections or they came from renowned underwater photographers. However, with the growth of Digital Underwater Photography, and more and more divers capturing their underwater experiences, we decided to do something different for 2010 and created a worldwide search!

View the top 10 finalists and vote for your favorite Society card image. Your vote counts! The final winner will be announced in November 2009 and will receive a certificate, global recognition, plus bragging rights!

Share this link with your friends. Voting closes on 30 October 2009 at 11am PST.

Did You Know?
Each year, the PADI Diving Society produces a limited-edition Society membership card. More than 175,000 Society members worldwide use their card proudly in PADI Dive Centers and Resorts to redeem their Society membership benefits.

PADI Diving Society keeps divers active by providing you with additional incentives while you continue your diving adventures, purchasing new equipment or going on more dive trips! More importantly Society members share one thing in common: the love of the underwater.

Want to enjoy Society membership benefits? JOIN TODAY!

6:45

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mercredi, septembre 23, 2009

What's Your Ocean IQ
Humeur actuelle :

surpris

Do you know what four marine resources make the ocean important to life on earth? Or if humans have seen much of the ocean? Test your knowledge in this 10 question quiz from the Life on an Ocean Planet textbook.

Take the Quiz Now!....then leave a comment on how you did.

9:18

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vendredi, septembre 18, 2009

PADI Diving Society’s Photo Contest Deadline Approaching
Humeur actuelle :

aventureux

Your best underwater or dive lifestyle photo could be displayed on the Society 2010 membership card.

Each year, PADI Diving Society produces a limited-edition Society membership card for more than 175,000 Society members worldwide. In the past, PADI Offices have used photos from internal collections or invited renowned underwater photographers to provide images for each card. This year, the PADI Diving Society is inviting all novice and professional underwater photographers to participate in a photo contest: The winning image will be displayed on the 2010 Society membership card.

Participants can submit up to three photos^*showcasing their best underwater or dive lifestyle images and all entries must be received by 22 September 2009. Judges from PADI Offices and affiliated PADI Diving Society publications will pick the top images and open this select group for final public voting in October 2009. Look for opportunities to participate or vote at padi.com, the PADI Blog, MySpace or Facebook pages. The winner will be announced in November 2009 and will receive photo credit, a certificate of recognition, global exposure and bragging rights!

How to participate:

Submit up to three photos* of your best underwater or diving lifestyle photos as high resolution images minimum 300 dpi; in a horizontal digital image in proportion to 9.56 x 6.4cm or 3.75 x 2.5 inches.

How to Submit Your Entry:
1. Email all entries (maximum of three photographs) to your affiliated PADI Diving Society office with subject header: 2010 Society membership card entry. – Society office details below
2. Include your name, mailing address, contact number and Society membership number, if applicable.
3. All entries must be accompanied with a signed Photo Release document· – Available from your Society office

To find your local office- visit padidivingsociety.com and look for the 2010 PADI Diving Society membership card icon or link. Or find your office below!

PADI Americas/ Sport Diver Readers:
Visit www.padi.com/societyphotocontest for details or email aja.smith@padi.com

PADI Asia Pacific/ Scuba Diver AustralAsia Readers:
Click here for more details or email padidivingsociety@padi.com.au

PADI International/ Sport Diver UK Readers: email pds@padi.co.uk

*All entries must be accompanied by a signed photo release. Deadline is 22 September 2009.

7:00

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vendredi, août 14, 2009

Drop Zone Tahiti Debuts on Fuel TV
Humeur actuelle :

agité

Drop Zone ....Tahiti Rides Media Wave into 33 Million Households

Epic surf and dive adventure captures attention of Fox Cable Network’s Fuel TV channel.

On 20 August 2009, more than 33 million households will watch perfect waves meet ideal dive conditions as Drop Zone Tahiti debuts throughout the US on action sports channel, Fuel TV. Produced by PADI, Body Glove and Sport Diver magazine to attract Gen Y members to diving and PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, the film captures the adventures of three pro surfers and friends – Alex Gray, ....Holly Beck and Cheyne Magnusson – as they catch the best waves and explore ....Tahiti’s breathtaking reefs.

“Drop Zone Tahiti’s debut on Fuel TV – the only action sports cable and satellite network in the ........US – is great news for PADI Members and the dive industry,” says PADI Americas’ Vice President of Marketing and Communications ....Kristin Valette. “The cable network’s exposure strongly supports the goal of this effort, which is to cross market the two closely intertwined sports and encourage members of the surf community to check out what lies beneath the waves.”

Owned by media giant, Fox Cable Network, Fuel TV pipes the lifestyle and culture of skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX, freestyle motocross, and wakeboarding into millions of homes throughout the ........US every day.

“The film’s prominent positioning in the action sports arena represents a major coup for diving,” continued Valette. “All divers know a great dive is a huge adrenaline rush; but it’s often difficult to convey the action behind the rush on film. Drop Zone captures it all -- the adventure, the rush and the lifestyle of diving – and shares the adventure with action sports cultures around the world.”

Drop Zone first premiered during the DEMA Show 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, and continues to air at consumer shows throughout the United States, as well as at dive, travel, eco and adventure shows internationally, including Italy, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and the United Kingdom, to name a few.

Be sure to catch the television debut of Drop Zone Tahiti, airing on Fuel TV on August 20, 2009:

9:50

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mercredi, juin 10, 2009

World's Largest Floating Dump

Before I worked at PADI, the environment used to be the furthest thing from my mind. Throwing cans in the regular trash and using plastic bags was a normal and regular thing for me.

Then I started working here. There were separate bins everywhere for recyclables and filtered waters for using cups rather than plastic bottles. Project AWARE would show videos of the long term effects of plastic on the ocean and its sea life. Being environmentally friendly not only became easy, but a priority.

So, needless to say, now I try to pay attention to my actions in the environment and their long term effects. I also receive emails and alerts regarding the ocean and environment. Recently, with the crash of the AirFrance airplane and the trash around it, as well as the discussion of the UN possibly banning plastic bags, there has been more attention to the Ocean’s trash problem and the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch.

Many people are unaware of what the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is. I know I was. The Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is a patch of floating trash that has floated thousands of miles to make up several islands and zones of trash in the Pacific Ocean. It consists of plastic bags, bottles and other consumer goods. This causes seals, sea turtles and other sea life to get caught up in it and drown.

When looking up the garbage patch, I saw some devastating photos. Photos of sea turtles caught in plastic and masses and masses of debris floating in the water. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/what-is-the-great-pacific-ocean-garbage-patch. There was information as to what caused this and what a huge effort it would be to clean up.

So, in short, I write this to draw attention world’s lack of knowledge of environment and the effects that has had on the ocean. If we all join together to change just a couple of daily habits and educate those around us of their actions, we can make a huge difference.

Don’t wait for the UN to ban plastic bags. Do it yourself. Buy reusable canvas bags and bring them to the stores with you. Whenever possible, use cups, not plastic bottles, and when you have to use them, please recycle.

If you’d like to find other ways to help and protect the environment, visit the new Project AWARE blog at http://projectaware.wordpress.com/

And if you have any environmentally responsible tips that you’d like to share with us, please do!

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