Some of our divers styling here … more pictures please send them in!

Best of luck, congratulations and come back anytime!!

To give you an idea of what is involved … Our first lesson starts with an orientation with your PADI Instructor followed by a pool session in the Coyaba Beach Resort pool. In this confined water environment we introduce new divers to their equipment, give you all the time you need to get comfortable and teach you a few basic skills and exercises to build confidence. Once the new divers and their PADI Instructors are satisfied, which usually takes anywhere from ten minutes to an hour, the divers pass through the Eco Dive Shop where we get set to go out on your first open water dive. We travel to the dive site by boat (2-10 minute drive) and spend the next hour getting in, getting comfortable and getting under de sea! The dive sites are experience and comfort level appropriate therefore when the new diver picks their comfort zone whether it is 2 feet below or 35 feet below there promises to be lots to see and a great bucket-kicking-eye-opening experience!

Christie explaining some of the exercises to follow to our new divers

taking our first breaths underwater - "ok"!

Practicing our Alternate Airsource skills in buddy teams

Graduated the shallow end!! - now off to the deep end equalizing all the way...

and ahhhhhh ... this is why we do this!

Congratulations!

Leah with one proud Dad in the background

practicing our alternate air source use

practicing our mask clearing - which until we borrowed dad's mask was something we did a lot :) - and I must say Leah did it very well!

Leah practicing her regulator removal and replacement - we like those bubbles!!

Special thank you to our regional PADI manager Mike for joining us, Blue Magazine for covering the event, the GBT for the support, GT for an eternal safety stop buddy and  – Eco Dive, ScubaTech, Native Spirit, Aquanauts and Dive Grenada – dive centers for taking part in the commemorative Bianca C plaque laying dive on Saturday.

We had some great dives with great company and there are more to come but some starter pics here (thank Peter!!).  stay tuned :) …

PADI Regional Manager Mike and Christie attaching the plaque on Bianca C in the swimming pool

ahhhhh - making it to the bottom of the descent line with divers in on their way - ahhhh

all caught off guard - freshly laid plaque in Bianca's swimming pool. Thanks all!

Yesterday members of the Grenada Scuba Diving Association kicked off International Clean-up Day activities with what will be the first underwater clean-up in a month of land, coastal and underwater efforts.  Launching from Eco Dive representatives from Scuba Tech and Native Spirit Scuba joined us along with GBN (Grenada Broadcasting Network), Dr Clare Morrall from St George’s University, Emily and Craig (SGU DVM students) and 2 visitors to the island Dereck and Andy.  A huge thank you goes out to all volunteers for donating their time and efforts to help us raise awareness and clean up our seas!  Some pictures of the afternoon …

Craig and Emily getting ready to clean. THANK YOU!

Dr Morrall breifing divers and GBN on the afternoons activities and its importance

Ackee from Scuba Tech before the dive

Craig, Emily, Dereck and Andy listening intently to Clare's briefing ...

All in all despite the sea swells and grey skies from Tropical Storm Maria to our north we had a very successful afternoon totaling 5 enormous bags of trash made up of plastic cups, clothing (a lot from Carnival Juve morning – come on guys!), picnic plates, forks, plastic bags and food packaging, cigarette boxes and butts and more …

the loot ...

and the classy part ... sorting trash for the reporting ...

A final thank you to all who helped, a big thank to Dr Clare Morrall for her support and the GBN for being such good sports and helping us spread the word.  For those in Grenada who are interested in seeing more check out the local news Monday Sept 12th at 7 pm.