Dive Season is Here!

Posted: May 14 in Latest News by

Our local dive season is officially open!  Congratulations  to Matthew Martin, Steve Miller and Gabe Sowards who celebrated Mothers Day weekend by completing their open water certification dives at Strode Lake.  Good job guys!  They were treated to good visibility and 60′ ish (hope that’s a word) water temperatures.

It’s time for the rest of us to dust the cobwebs off our dive gear and our diving skills and get back in the water.  Better yet, how about improving your dive skills by taking a continuing education course?  Advanced open water is a great way to sample five different specialty diving activities.  Or, pick out an area that interests you and take a specialty course such as digital photography, navigation or Peak Performance Buoyancy to name just a few, many of which can be completed in one day.  For those of you with Advanced Certification, the Rescue Diver course is just perfect for taking your diving skills and awareness to the next level.

Whatever you chose, just make sure you get out and dive this season.

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Special Hours Apr 16 – 21

Posted: Apr 12 in Latest News by

We’re going diving!  So, we will be short staffed Apr 16 – 21.  Our hours will be as follows:

Sunday & Monday Apr 15 & 16:  CLOSED

Tues thru Friday, Apr 17 – 20:  Noon until 5:00 pm

Saturday, April 21:  10:00 am till 5:00 pm

Our regular hours will resume Monday, April 23

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Diving=Life

Posted: Jan 17 in Latest News by

Thanks to Duane Johnson for posting this on his Facebook page.   Diving can change your life!  Enjoy.

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Oceanic QLR3 Weight Pocket Recall

Posted: Jan 13 in Latest News by

Oceanic has just issued a recall for certain of its QLR3 BCD quick release weight pockets.  BCDs affected include the Excursion 2, Probe HLC, and Ocean Pro 1000.  The pockets at issue have a black stiffener, not gray,  and will be replaced by Oceanic.  Go to this link for further information on how to receive replacement pockets: http://www.oceanicworldwide.com/us/support-safety-notices/    If you have any questions, you can give us a call.

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Inventory Clearance Sale

Posted: Jan 10 in Latest News by

Now that 2012 is here, we are clearing out some of our 2011 inventory  to make way for new stock.  Discounts from 30 to 60% on selected fins, boots, wetsuits, and more.  Stop by to see the latest markdowns.  Sale ends January 31.

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Upcoming Classes and Events

Posted: Dec 30 in Latest News by

Jan. 7:    Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty Class

Jan. 10:  Scuba Review Pool Session

Jan. 15:  Begin Sunday Learn to Dive Scuba class

Jan. 24:  PADI SEAL Class begins-AquaMissions 1 & 2

Jan 16:   Monday/Tuesday Learn to Dive evening class begins

Jan 28:  First Aid/CPR Class

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Bonne Terre Mine Feb 25 & 26

Posted: Dec 27 in Latest News by

We’re heading down to Bonne Terre Mine near St Louis to do some “deep earth” diving the weekend of Feb 25 & 26.  A former lead mine, Bonne Terre’s unique ” Billion Gallon Lake” is illuminated with over 500,000 watts of surface lighting.  All dives are guided, with  a total of twenty-four different “trails” laid out in the lake which take divers through mammoth archways, past beautiful calcium falls, around gargantuan pillars and to the many abandoned mining artifacts scattered throughout the mine. Depths of the dive tours average between 40 to 60 feet.  Water temperature is a  constant  58 degrees year round with no thermoclines, and air temperature in the mine is a comfortable 62 degrees.  This is not cave diving, but an underground lake.

The plan is to do two dives on Saturday and one Sunday morning.  Cost is $70 per dive.  Fees are due at the time of sign up and are not refundable as per Bonne Terre policy.  For more information, or to sign up, give us a call or stop in.

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Happy Holidays

Posted: Dec 23 in Latest News, Local Dive Sites by

We wish everyone a  wonderful holiday season.  We truly appreciate your business and friendship.  Thank you for your support and we hope to see all of you out diving in 2012!

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Holiday Scuba Class Special

Posted: Dec 01 in Latest News by

Looking for the perfect gift for that special friend or family member (or yourself for that matter)?  How about a gift that will open up a lifetime of fun and adventure-Scuba diving!  From now until Dec 24, you can purchase the Academic and Pool portion of the Open Water Scuba class for only $179.99, which includes books and materials, a savings of $60 off our regular price.  You’ll receive a gift certificate for the class along with the student materials, so you’ll have something to put under the Christmas tree.  Too crazy busy to stop in?  No worries-we can mail you the materials and the gift certificate if you prefer.  Just give us a call.

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Scuba Club Cozumel: June 23 -30, 2012

Posted: Nov 14 in Latest News by

Join Do Dive In on a trip to one of the Caribbean’s top diving destinations: Cozumel, Mexico.  Cozumel offers some of the best diving in the Caribbean and is famous for its drift diving, incredibly clear water, and amazing marine life.  We’ll be staying and diving with the fine folks at Scuba Club Cozumel.  Diver’s package for the week is $1025, which includes lodging (dble occupancy), hotel taxes, meals, 5 days of 2 tank boat dives, and unlimited shore diving.   Air fare, airport transfers, departure taxes, and marine park fees are not included.  Call or e-mail Jan for more information.   A $500 deposit is required to reserve your slot.

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2012 First Quarter Schedule is Now Up!

Posted: Nov 08 in Latest News by

Check out our Schedule page for the latest in 2011/2012 classes, trips and other events.  We’ll be tweaking things as we go of course, so check back often.   There’s always something new and exciting to learn in our sport, even for those of us “mature” divers.   If there is  class you’re interested in that’s not on the schedule, drop us an e-mail or call and we’ll do our best to accommodate you!  As the saying goes, “a good diver is always learning.”

We’re looking forward to a busy year of diving adventures and hope you’ll join us.

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Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Apr 14-21, 2012

Posted: Oct 14 in Latest News by

Join us as we experience some of the best diving in the Caribbean aboard the 124 foot live-aboard dive boat Turks & Caicos Explorer II. Famous for its spectacular walls filled with huge gorgonian fans, barrel sponges, hard coral arches, and ample marine life, the Turks and Caicos islands offer a dive experience for everyone. Diver package is $2295 and includes 7 nights/8 days aboard the boat in double occupancy staterooms, all meals plus snacks, up to 5 dives a day, use of tanks and weights, all alcoholic and non-alcoholic, beverages, and nitrox fills for certified nitrox divers. Deposit is $750. We hope to have a complete trip description posted on our travel page within the next couple of days. Until then, call Jan for more information.

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Effective Gas Management Tips

Posted: Sep 30 in Latest News by

One of the most important aspects of diving, whether you are sport diving or technical diving, are effective gas management skills. Once you descend, running out of gas is not a viable option! This is especially true for technical divers who frequently put themselves into more complicated underwater situations that make a direct return to the surface exceedingly difficult. This is why it is so important to have a solid understanding of gas management skills prior to setting out for the water.

The fundamental basics of gas management revolve around a few simple concepts:

  • Understanding the average amount of gas that you and your buddy(ies) consume over a given period of time.  Gas is a shared resource-the goal is to make sure every one conserves enough gas to get  the team back safely even if someone runs out of gas and needs to share.
  • Understanding the way in which your consumption rate is affected and varies based upon a number of factors, including variations in depth and your mental and physical state. For example, your consumption rate will be higher the deeper you dive or if you become stressed or anxious while underwater.
  • Understanding the best way to efficiently use the gas that you have available, and knowing when it is time to return to the surface based on your tank pressure.
  • Once underwater, follow whatever plan you and your team mates have agreed upon.  Simply put: Pay attention to your and your team mates gas supply throughout the dive!

A simple, but useful plan for managing your gas on easy, relatively shallow recreational dives, is the rule of thirds.  (On deeper recreational dives or technical dives, a more conservative gas management plan might be advised)  With the rule of thirds, you plan your dive so that you use no more than one-third of your allotted gas for your descent and swim away from your entry point, another third of your gas supply is dedicated to the return trip, and the remaining third is reserved for contingencies. By following this simple rule you will greatly enhance your odds of  having enough gas to return safely to the surface, with plenty to spare, in case of an emergency.

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Nitrox Fills Now Available

Posted: Jul 25 in Latest News by

Our Nitrox fill station is up and running!  We can do Nitrox fills up to 32%.  Price is $12 per fill.  Nitrox tank rental with fill is $17.  Right now we’re filling tanks individually but hope to have Nitrox 32 banked in the very near future.  So, for the time being if you need Nitrox please call ahead.

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Great Weather and diving great Do Dive In Divers in Grand Cayman

Posted: Jul 25 in Latest News by

Ten Do Dive In divers escaped the cool, wet spring of Central Illinois April 2 -7 for the sun, warmth and diving of Grand Cayman.  Our home for the week was the venerable Sunset House, one of Grand Cayman’s oldest and most popular dedicated dive resort .    It didn’t take the group long to get into the “swim of things”.  Several  dive-a-holic members of the group couldn’t  wait for the boat dives to begin on Sunday and logged two shore dives Saturday afternoon and evening.  Due to a rooming mixup, two members of the group ended up with a suite which became party central for the week.  The diving of course was spectacular.  Highlights included sheer walls, turtles, squid, spotted eagle rays, moray eels and too many adult and tropical fish to count.  Of course no trip to Grand Cayman is complete without an excursion to Sting Ray City, where divers have an opportunity to interact up close and personal with huge, but gentle Southern Stingrays.  Needless to say, a good time was had by all.
Members of the group took a lot of really great pictures.

Here are some highlights from Steve Herrick, Lynn Irving-Klass and Pat Horvitz:

See more pictures in our photo gallery…

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