Travel with STSC - 2013 Each year we attempt to run many programs and trips. Not all things happen due to many reasons, We've posted these trips so that you know the types of things we do. If something piques you're interest let us know. Interest is the first thing that gets a trip rolling. If you're not sure whether something is going on contact the store for the details. |
Niagara River Drift Dive...We usually drift dive the Niagara River every September. Yes, it’s the same river that eventually spills over the falls; and no, you won’t go over the falls. While the current is swift, it's a safe two to three miles per hour. The trick to survival is keeping your eyes on what's in front of you to prevent collisions with rocks that seem to spring up quickly at times. Dives last 60 - 90 minutes (depending on the speed of the current) at a depth of 20 to 30 feet. The visibility is surprisingly good and there’s lots of large freshwater fish to see including bass, walleye, lake trout, the occasional salmon a rare musky and perch. Experience the thrill of flying underwater down the mighty Niagara River! |  |
| Dutch Springs has several topside amenities. Surrounded by 50 acres of grassy fields and woods, there is plenty of space for the 400 divers per day that visit on an average summer weekend. Facilities include a heated changing building with restrooms, an enclosed picnic pavilion and an air fill station. To encourage families of divers to participate, kayaks, paddle boats and aqua cycles can be rented, and camping is allowed on weekends. A mobile food stand and picnic tables are provided. Dutch Springs offers no scuba sales, rentals or instruction. To encourage families of divers to participate, kayaks, paddle boats and aqua cycles can be rented, and camping is allowed on weekends. A mobile food stand and picnic tables are provided. Dutch Springs offers no scuba sales, rentals or instruction. |  |
Entries and exits are made from four wooden docks and a wide, pebbly beach, plus a surface platform with a ladder to simulate boat diving. Students have plenty of things to see during underwater tours: an airplane, a fire truck, several boats, all connected to the training platforms by lines to facilitate navigation, and located at a depth of 60 feet or less. Dutch Springs also supports a healthy population of fish: crappie, bass, bluegill and goldfish. |  |
| Travel with STSC to Playa del Carmen in 2013 |
| Playa del Carmen is much more than seductive, white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. This hot new destination is a swinging town with an upbeat tempo, an eclectic combination of amazing Mayan culture and tourists from all over the world. Hotel.....Located in the heart of Playa Del Carmen, Paraiso Azul's Casa De Gopala is a small hotel that for years has been a favorite destination for travelers from around the world seeking clean, comfortable, and reasonably priced accommodations. Many of our guests are repeat visitors that first stayed with us years ago, well before Playa evolved into the popular tourist destination of today. Once you step from the city street, pass through our large wooden portals |  |
| and enter into our private walled jungle, you will immediately sense that special feeling and atmosphere that only time can bestow. If you are looking to step back in time to experience some of the authentic "Old Playa" while enjoying the excitement and vitality of the "New Playa - WELCOME TO THE CASA DE GOPALA, THE JEWEL OF OLD PLAYA!- Rooms are very spacious, unusually bright and airy, with high ceilings and large arched windows. Each room has a private bath and is furnished with either two matrimonial beds or one queen bed. A terrace area outside each room, furnished with table and chairs, is almost like having another room and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a cold one from your |  |
refrigerator or a morning coffee. Room amenities include: •Ceiling fan •Security box •Refrigerator •Air conditioning •Alarm clock / radio •Cable TV •terrace with table & chairs •wireless internet. There are also 2 STUDIO SUITES & 1 MASTER SUITE that you can upgrade to if available. |  |
the world, the "d'zenots" in Maya, "cenotes" in Spanish, is the mainattraction for scuba divers visiting the Yucatan Peninsula. Centuries ago, rain water on its way to the Caribbean Sea formed cavities in the limestone of the Yucatan Peninsula by hollowing out caves, creating fantastic formations. When parts of the caves grew too large, their ceiling collapsed and cenotes and sinkholes were formed. The cenotes, which are distributed in the jungle like pearls, are the doors to an incredible underwater world, providing the best cave and cavern diving imaginable. With water as clear as air the visibility is unbelievable as the diver glides through a color-filled fantasy world. The gentle current and mild water temperature (about 75º F / 24º C) create a perfect underwater |  |
| environment for divers of all experience levels which offers endless opportunities for spectacular underwater photography. Local Activities...Worthwhile excursions include trips to the Maya archaeological sites of Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba. Easy-to-reach attractions include Tres Rios, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, the caves and caverns of Aktun Chen, Chaak Tun and Kantun Chi as well as numerous cenotes. Tours to the Maya sites and other attractions along the coast leave daily from Playa. Join an eco-adventure tour to Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve with opportunities of birding and observing wildlife or explore the jungle with an ATV. Ask us for more information any upgrades or add-ons. |  |
| Divers package includes: 7 nights accommodations, breakfast each morning, 3 days of ocean dives, 2 days of cenote diving, nitrox for EAN certified divers, day trip to a Maya archaeological site & tips for the dives listed above. Cost $985 dbl - $1285 sgl Non Divers package includes: 7 nights accommodations, breakfast each morning, day trip to a Maya archaeological site. Cost $475 dbl - $775 sgl Other options include: Night dive if we have 6 divers $65/diver (includes tip), cavern or cave dives if certified. More or less ocean/cenote dives and technical training. Airfare is not included in package however at last check it was $320 This Trip is Currently Sold Out unless you want to be put on a waiting list |  |
| Wreck Diving the Saint Lawrence Brockville, Ontario is one of the hottest SCUBA diving destinations in Canada. Situated on the St. Lawrence river in the Thousand Islands region, it offers all the features necessary for a memorable dive holiday. The St. Lawrence has been an important trade route from the 1700's up to the present day. The main diving attractions are the clear visibility and the many historic shipwrecks that litter the bottom of this exciting stretch of water. In the past, dives have included the Daryaw, Gaskin, Lillie Parsons, Kings Horn, America and the Keystorm. Most divers plan to leave on Thursday afternoon around 3:00pm and return late on Sunday. Diving takes place with ABUCS Scuba Charters and is limited to Advanced Divers Only. |
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| Projected cost at this time is $429 plus gst tax and includes the following: Lodging on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, 3 air fills, a Friday beach dive, Saturday 4 boat dives including one tank rental, Sunday 2 boat dives, lunch on Saturday and Sunday, continental breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. A single diver $589 Non Diver $299.00 On Friday for a limited number of divers (additional charge) there is a chance to explore the future of scuba diving, learn about and take a rebreather experience dive. Cost would be $175.00 for the day. We are now taking a $200.00 deposit to hold your spot. A passport is required for this trip. For additional information contact Rich at the scuba center. |
| Gold - Gold - Gold |
| Come After Maine's Swift River Gold Somewhere in the mountains of southwestern Maine in Oxford county, there exists a ''mother lode'' of gold beyond the wildest dreams of any prospector. Pure conjecture? Not at all, that statement is based on solid fact and research. For 50 years, concentrated efforts have been made by professional geologists to find the source of gold in Oxford county's brooks, lakes and ponds. The precious metal, along with some occasional platinum, is found everywhere. Presently, research is continuing in the Wilson Mills area, very close to the New Hampshire border. There is very definitely gold in "Them Thar Hills", particularly in the |  |
| region of Eustis. Near Byron, the Swift River and its many feeder streams have produced more gold than all of the other (known) Maine gold regions combined. Anyone who can handle a pan will find small traces of the color if he is willing to spend the time. As many as a dozen persons can be seen panning the stream on a given day during the summer months. Some search behind the upturned stones and boulders where small nuggets sometimes collect. Fly fishermen will often set aside the rod and search for gold. Trappers have been finding a small amount of gold in the Swift River almost since the area was opened to settlement. An approximate estimate of $7,000 of the yellow stuff was taken from among a jumbled pile of rocks at a bend of the river. |  |
| Perley Whitney took several thousand dollars worth over a period of years from one of the branches. Two Boston vacationers panned almost $500 in two week's time from one of the small brooks that flow into the Swift. Commercial interest in the possibilities of a major strike in Maine are on the increase. The search for the world's most sought after commodity has been on the upswing in Maine for the past several years. Beginners will continue to have a ball searching for it in the streams and ponds of remote Oxford county. Superb trout fishing, gorgeous scenery and excellent camping facilities make this a natural for an entire family. Maine has no rattlesnakes, but its black flies are the most savage on this planet. |  |
| They have been lunching on out-of-staters for almost 100 years. Do not attempt a gold panning venture before the first of August unless well supplied with sprays and netting for the entire party. Remember that you are in a region that even prominent scientists believe harbors a fabulous mother lode. There is nothing mythological about the gold of Maine. After Rich made his first trip to this area back in 2002 and was hooked. Returning a number of times since, he has found gold each and every trip. Finally, wanting to share his experiences, he wrote the Gold Prospecting Awareness a PADI Distinctive Specialty. It took over a year but PADI approved it as the first specialty ever to be allowed to use surface supplied air. |  |
| The Gold Prospecting Awareness Specialty course is intended to serve as a safe and supervised introduction to diving for gold. The Gold Prospecting Awareness Specialty course is designed to familiarize you with the skills, knowledge, planning, procedures, techniques, hazards, conservation and enjoyment of Gold Prospecting. In August, Sunken Treasure plans to take a group of only six divers to this area in search of the elusive metal. We plan to leave early Thursday evening and return late Sunday. Trip Includes: indoor and outdoor classroom work in PA & ME, learning how to pan, use of a sluice box and how to operate a dredge & hookah system, hotel for one night on the way up, 2 nights at the local campground in ME, breakfast on Saturday & Sunday, lunch on Friday & Saturday and use of all prospecting |  |
| equipment. Travel expenses are shared along with all gold found. A non-refundable $100.00 deposit holds your spot. Balance must be paid by June 30th. (hotel & camping is based on double occupancy) Cost: $469 |
Florida Trips each February |  |  |
Average Cost includes: Tanks, Weights, Air Fills, Hotels - Car Rental - Snorkel with the Manatee's & Diving Rainbow River and Ginnie Springs - Extra Day at Epcot/Universal. $789/person/dbl. Airfare Not Included....Last years airfare was around $200.00 Each year the group has a Great Time So Don't Miss Out |  |  |
| Experience the Thrill of a Lifetime in the Bahamas |
| Looking for a vacation getaway? Why not travel with us to the Bahamas for a long weekend to Stuart Cove's Dive South Ocean, in April. It is conveniently isolated on the southwest end of New Providence Island (Nassau) Bahamas. YOU can enjoy lounging on the beach, shopping, snorkeling, sightseeing, golf, casinos, tennis, walks on the beach or just plain relaxing in the warm climate. SCUBA divers and snorkeler's can experience Walls, Reefs, Wrecks, Sharks, and out island "Wilderness Safari's". Dive South Ocean offers divers a state of the art facility including custom dive boats, "Fin Photo", a full service underwater photo and video center, and advanced diving opportunities including enriched air (Nitrox). For the adventurer in you, they also offer several Extreme Adventures including the Shark Adventure™ ($150 if paid when making reservation) and Wall Flying™ Adventure! Some other options we can do based on enough people is a night dive if we get 6 people or anyone can add afternoon dives if you want to dive all day. Stuart Cove’s Dive South Ocean "Has It All". We’ll be staying at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. This renovated beach front resort boasts rooms with large private balcony or patio where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, lush gardens, or waterscape, with three freshwater pools with flowing waterfalls, oversized whirlpools, and a swim-up bar, there will be plenty to do after the diving for everyone including non-divers. This is a great trip for both divers and non-divers alike. April 22-28, 2012 Last Check on Airfare was $248 plus tax Diver/dbl occ - $1210 or single is $1965 or Non Diver/dbl occ - $755 or single $1485 |
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Tips for Planning a Dive Vacation Do I need a passport? Don't Wait...Get your passport now! |
Why do I have to put up a deposit? The deposit serves two purposes. First of all, your deposits go immediately to pay the deposit on the boat or hotel. We try not to ask for a higher deposit than is necessary to hold the reservations. The second reason for a deposit is to be sure that people who say they are going to join the trip actually do. Unfortunately, people often intend to join a trip but at the last minute back out unless they have a financial obligation. It's only fair to the people who organize trips and to the people who were unable to go because it was sold out that those people who said they were going actually show up! A deposit helps to insure this. How soon do I need to give you a deposit? As soon as you RSVP for the trip. We will hold your verbal reservation for 7 days to give the deposit time to arrive, but after that if the deposit doesn't show up, your spot is up for grabs. Our goal is to fill the trips, so we cannot turn people away if the trip is not truly full. Until your deposit arrives, your spot is not confirmed! Once your deposit arrives, we will send you a confirmation e-mail. I gave a deposit but now I can't go. What do I do? In this case, the obligation to find a replacement is yours . We will make every effort to help by contacting anyone that may have been on the standby list and putting out the word of the vacancy. Ultimately, however, the responsibility to fill the spot is yours. If the spot is filled, we will gladly return your deposit...and tell you what a great trip you missed when we get back! ;-) If we cannot fill your spot, or we have to significantly discount the spot at the last minute to sell it, you will not get your deposit back, or you may only get part of it back. I'm sorry that it has to be that way, but that is the way a deposit works. You place a deposit to hold a spot on the trip, and that deposit prevents another person from taking your spot. If you decide you don't want the spot, we are in a "bind" to fill it. The best way to be sure you will get your deposit back is to find someone to take your spot . Ready to Go? HAVE FUN !!!! |