Akona - Accessories and Gear Bags - http://www.akona.com
Aries - Dive Computers - http://www.diveaeris.com
Cetacea - accessory clips - http://www.cetaceacorp.com
Designated Diver Sportswear - http://www.designateddiver.com
Dive into Your Imagination - http://www.diveintoyourimagination.com
Diversitea - Herbal Teas & Homeopathic Products - http://www.diversitea.com
Force Fins by Bob Evans Designs - http://www.forcefin.com
Fourth Element - Thermal Protection - http://www.fourthelement.com
Genesis - Full Line Mfg - www.genesisscuba.com
Henderson Aquatics - wet suits - http://www.hendersonusa.com
Innovative Scuba Concepts - Accessories - http://www.innovativescuba.com
Intova - u/w digital cameras - http://www.intova.net
JAWS - Spit & other natural cleaners - http://www.jawsproducts.com
JW Fisher - metal detectors - http://www.jwfishers.com
Light & Motion - high end dive lights - http://www.uwimaging.com/
Macks - Ear Dryer - http://www.dryear.net
Marine Sports - http://www.marinesportsmfg.com
McNett - care products - http://www.mcnett.com
Ocean Potion - Sun Care Products - oceanpotion.com
O.S. System Dry Suits - http://www.ossystems.com
Ocean Master - http://www.oceanmaster.com
PADI - travel & educational supplies - www.padi.com
Pelican - lights & air tight cases - www.pelican.com
Princeton Tec - Lights - http://www.princetontec.com
Redline - lights & tools -www.nebotools.com
Sea Dine - U/W Fish Food - http://seadine.com
Sea Pearls - Weights - http://www.seapearls.com
Sea & Sea USA - Cameras - http://www.seaandsea.com
Sea Soft Scuba - Accessories - http://seasoftscuba.com/
Sea Vision - Optical Masks - http://www.seavisionusa.com
Scuba Max - Full Line Mfg - http://www.escubamax.com
Shearwater Research - Computers for Technical Divers - shearwaterresearch.com
Sherwood Scuba - Full Line Mfg - http://www.sherwoodscuba.com
Trident - Diving Accessories - http://www.tridentdive.com
Waterproof Diving International - http://www.waterproof-usa.com/
XIT 404 - home of the Aqua Pencil &u/w slates - www.XIT404.com
XS Scuba - Everything for the perfect Dive - http://www.xsscuba.com
Zeagle - BCD's and Regulators - http://www.zeagle.com

Support Your Local Dive Store by Gary Worden

The best deal in diving is an active and thriving local dive store. Dive stores are the driving force and center of activity for our sport, and if they're not supported, they go away. When that happens, a diver's easy access to good advice and training, equipment, supplies, air, dive travel, and camaraderie becomes limited and, perhaps, even disappears.
Everyone wants good dive prices, but like so many other things, price is only part of a "good deal." Making sure that your local dive store is doing well keeps the supply and communication lines open and ensures that the right environment exists so you can easily continue to enjoy the adventures and challenges that recreational diving offers.
A primary and crucial dive store responsibility is providing initial and advanced training in a professional and safety-conscious manner. With the guidance and help of the various certification agencies, most dive stores provide excellent programs. As a diver, you should consider increasing your diving knowledge and abilities by adding to your basic certification card.
It's our hope that Dive Training magazine can also add another dimension to your experience. As you go through our issues, take a quick look at the lower left corner of each page. You'll see six words that present the theme, direction, and emphasis this publication takes.
"A good diver is always learning" is not only a truism, but an attitude that should be nurtured and developed by every diver, young or old, novice or professional. Dive Training is intended to help foster and encourage this attitude. Each monthly issue presents information that we hope will nourish understanding of diving environments, heighten interest, suggest concepts, promote additional training, and stress dive safety. The publication tries to be realistic and honest in its editorial approach.
In your early days of diving, learning the basics well is an important responsibility. Periodically reviewing those basics, and increasing your knowledge through continuing education will help make diving a safer, more enjoyable activity. You and your dive store are vital ingredients in this learning process. It's a mutual partnership that benefits each of you.

We hope Dive Training Magazine can be of help to both of you.

Reprinted from Dive Training Magazine.
Stop by Sunken Treasure and pick-up a complimentary copy of Dive Training Magazine today.

Scuba diving, like many recreational activities, is equipment intensive. Recreational diving has grown from an obscure sport practiced by a small band of youthful and athletic adventurers into an activity enjoyed by millions around the world in all kinds of water. Increasingly sophisticated and reliable equipment, and the training to use it properly, are largely responsible for that growth.
Whether an item of dive gear is considered essential or desirable, each was conceived and developed to satisfy a definite need and perform a specific function. From regulator to gauges, mask to fins, and buoyancy compensator to wet suit, recreational scuba equipment is purposeful, interesting to use, and a big contributor to the overall fascination and attraction of diving.
Acquiring your own dive equipment is a major factor in the enjoyment of the sport. Sure, you can rent gear at many dive destinations, but do you really want to rely on the availability of much-used rental equipment for your personal safety and enjoyment of diving?
Owning your own dive gear has many advantages. As a beginning Open Water certification student, you can speed your learning curve and progress quickly into the open-water environment by purchasing and using a basic dive equipment package-regulator and BC in addition to mask, snorkel, and fins. Learning how to scuba dive involves a lot more than learning how to breathe through a regulator underwater. You learn the art of buoyancy control, the subtleties of swimming and streamlining, and a host of other skills. Acquiring these skills quickly and comfortably has a lot to do with the equipment you use in training. If the BC is too small, you will struggle with it, which interferes with your learning. Fit and comfort are the prime criteria in selecting most items of dive gear, and in achieving maximum safety and pleasure underwater. The best way to ensure that your gear fits correctly and comfortable is to wear your own.
Even if loaner or rental equipment fits well, it may not be right for you because of particular features-or lack of them. Features are what distinguish one item of dive gear from another. When you buy your own gear, you evaluate and choose the features you need and appreciate. The process is fun, adds greatly to your knowledge of diving, and ensures that the gear you dive with does what you want it to, the way you want it to.
You will know how to operate it properly and care for it responsibly. You will know the condition of your gear, where it has been, and who has been using it. That familiarity contributes to the highest level of safety, which in turn gives you peace of mind.
Other less obvious but still important benefits accrue from owning dive gear. Buying gear deepens your relationship with your dive store. That store is your conduit to diving. It offers training opportunities, arranges trips, keeps you in contact with other divers, and services and supports your equipment. Having your own equipment also marks you as a serious, committed diver, and it encourages you to dive regularly, to stay involved in the sport.
The bottom line on equipment ownership: It's the way to achieve maximum enjoyment of diving. At Dive Training magazine we believe that part of the commitment you are making to learn to dive should include acquiring your own dive gear. It's an excellent investment in yourself and in your future diving adventures.

What is the True Cost of Diving?
Like many other hobbies, SCUBA is an equipment intensive activity. You can't dive and stay underwater without the proper equipment. Equipment needed is also determined by what time of the year and where you are diving. To say the least, it will cost you money to dive. Now as a new diver there are a number of ways to reduce the cost, especially here at STSC.

• Twice a year STSC has a free gear day so you can dive with us at a local site while owning nothing but mask, snorkel,  & fins.
• We have an option called the 6 Pak Program. With this program, you can make 6 local dives with a STSC staff member and equipment is provided, all for only $99.00.
• Other than purchasing everything, STSC has rental options. You can rent a few items or you can get the "I need everything" rental for just $40.00 a day.
• As a certified diver while traveling with us on any of the STSC week long dive trips, you can rent gear at half of the normal rate.

After becoming certified, chances are you'll want to own your own equipment and STSC offers a large range of prices for equipment that will fit your needs and be within your budget. In addition to the wide price ranges, STSC also offers in-store financing for 48 months on any purchase,  90 days same as cash. Stop in at STSC, we'll be happy to go over the lines we carry and the costs.

The equipment below is typically what a recreational diver might own:

Thermal Protection could be one or more of the following:
>>>Shorty Wet Suits $60 - $215
>>>3mm One Piece Suits $109 - $305
>>>5mm One Piece Suits $119 - $369
>>>7mm Two Piece Suits $185 - $578
BCD's $245 - $695
Regulators $209 - $609
Alternate Second Stage (Octo) $60 - $196
Tanks $180 - $410 which include 10 free air fills
Gauges:
>>>Air Console $159 - $240
>>>Nitrox Consoles $339 to hoseless integrated $795

Equipment packages are also available

For example: Our summer package includes: thermal protection, BCD, regulator, alternate air source, gauges and tank for $912.95 plus tax or $29.37 for 48 months, or 90 days same as cash.

Price alone shouldn't determine what equipment you buy and where you purchase it. Shopping locally at STSC you will have the opportunity to talk to one of the knowledgeable staff members who can help determine what gear is best suited for your needs. In addition, you will also be able to try on some of the gear to make sure that it fits properly and that it is comfortable. In most cases, the staff has the knowledge and certification necessary to provide factory authorized maintenance and repairs on-site. Scuba centers are only authorized to service products they sell and therefore, equipment not purchased locally may have to be returned for annual service, which is very costly.

At STSC, we have pride in our high level of customer service and the ability to take care of our customers needs. So the next time you are looking for gear, come in and give our staff a chance to earn your trust and your business. Hope to see you at a dive site soon and thank you.

Remember, in order to keep your equipment in its best operating order and keep the warranty valid, it must be serviced each and every year, even if it hasn't been used. When servicing a regulator at Sunken Treasure, we take the regulator completely apart, clean and check all parts, and replace any worn or bad parts. The regulator is then reassembled, adjusted, and tested. The gauges on your regulator are a separate item and should be returned to the manufacturer every two years for testing and recalibration. If something doesn't seem correct then it should be checked right away. A tank visual inspection do not include valve service, which should be done every 3-5 years, depending on use. BCD warranty checks include checking for leaks, over pressure relief and dump valves working OK, and cleaning and lubrication of the power inflator.
Prices for these services run from FREE to $35.00 depending on the item. The cost of parts on items not under warranty is not included.

Owning diving equipment represents a long-term investment in fun and safety. A good set of dive gear can last through years of diving and travel, take you to unforgettable experiences in incredible underwater environments, and bring you home safely. It is important to buy the right gear for the type of diving you will do, ensure that it fits and is comfortable, be trained in its use and keep it serviced at recommended intervals.
Diving equipment manufacturers sell and service their products through a network of authorized dealers. These dealers understand the product features, benefits and applications, are authorized to fit, assemble and service your gear and are your link to the manufacturer for sales, service, performance, warranty, notification and upgrade issues.
It is very possible for you to purchase dive gear from non authorized dealers and not be aware of some serious issues. For example, many Internet sellers acquire the product they sell through gray market (third-party) channels. They may not be authorized to sell or service a particular product, are not trained by the manufacturer, may not ship it assembled, may sell it without the original parts or sell items that have been used or returned. For those reasons some manufacturers do not warrant products sold by unauthorized resellers, who in turn may sell gear without a warranty enclosed, or include their own warranties that appear valid but are not recognized by the manufacturer. There may also be issues with post-sale assembly, service and notifications, parts costs, and exchanges.
Dive gear is incredibly dependable, but it IS life-support equipment, engineered to take you where humans aren’t designed to go. Each piece of gear has a specialized purpose, and the aspects surrounding product education, fit, function and service may be as important to you personally as is the equipment itself. It’s all part of the value equation, and why it is important to buy your equipment only through authorized dealers.
If you question whether a particular reseller is an authorized dealer, it’s pretty simple. Call the manufacturer directly, or confirm it by using the authorized dealer listings on manufacturers’ Web sites.
At Dive Training magazine, we believe that part of the commitment you make to learn to dive should include acquiring your own dive gear. It’s an excellent investment in yourself and in your diving adventures. Please remember that the service aspects of equipment are important as well.

Reprinted from Dive Training Magazine pickup your FREE copy today at STSC.