Dutch Springs a 47-acre lake is located off U.S. Route 22 a few miles north of Bethlehem, Penn., is about two hours from here. Dutch Springs is privately owned and has been set up exclusively as a dive training facility. Average visibility in the spring-fed former quarry is around 40 feet . Water temperature at the surface is in the mid 70s F in the summer, rising from about 38 degrees when the season opens in April. You'll hit the first thermocline right around platform depth, with a drop in temperature of about 10 degrees. At minimum, divers visiting Dutch Springs should wear a properly fitting full quarter-inch/6.5mm wet suit with a hood, booties and gloves. In the cooler months, using a dry suit is a good idea. 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. 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. This year there is a new sunken boat and they plan to sink another plane soon. Fees are $32 for divers and $21 for nondivers on summer weekends. Season and group passes are available. For more information call (610) 759-2270 or visit www.dutchsprings.com. STSC 2008 planned dates at this time are: 5/25, 7/5, 8/10, 9/7, 10/4, 11/16 however I'm sure more will be added. Just keep in touch. To get your waiver ahead of time click here. |
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STSC Goes to Bonaire "08 |
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April 19 - 26, 2008 |
Current trip will cost: $810.00/diver/dbl/Occup/Rm $1170.00 diver/sgl/Occup/Rm $882.00 non-diver/sgl/Occup/Rm 6/1 airfare non-stop from Newark - $580.00 |
Bahamas Looking for a vacation getaway? Why not travel with the gang to the Bahamas for a long weekend to Stuart Cove's Dive South Ocean, in August. 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™ ($130 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 interested 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 Wyndham Nassau Resort beachfront casino resort. With eight restaurants and an outdoor pool with swim-up bar and water slide on site and quick trips into town, 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. Since 1998 Stuart’s made it extra special for Jr. Certified divers age 10 through 15 who can now dive FREE when diving with a paying adult or guardian sponsor. We can NOT CONFIRM prices yet but based on what they said we have a number of options: Package includes hotel, taxes, gratuities, hotel service charge, airport & Dive transfers, 2 am dives/day, tanks, weights and belts if needed. Air/meals are not included. 4 days / 3 nights / 2 dive days - Diver - $391/dbl. - Airfare approx. $375 (prices based on cash or check) Reserve your spot with just a $100 deposit. This trip is limited to 12 people. You can see more photos of last years trip in our Photo Gallery. |
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Wreck Diving the Saint Lawrence |
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In the past some 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. Projected cost at this time is $369 plus gst tax and includes the following: Lodging on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, 3 airfills, 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 $569 Non Diver $299.00 On Friday for a limited number of divers (additional charge) interested 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. A $200.00 deposit is required to hold your spot. For additional information contact Rich at the scuba center. |
Tips for Planning a Dive Vacation
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Ready to Go? Well here are some General Rules: · Be flexible · Mark Your Scuba Gear · Buy Dive Insurance and/or travel insurance. We recommend Dive Assure. · Don't take unnecessary valuables with you · Don't forget prescription medications · Put your essential gear in your carry on luggage · Don't over pack you have weight limits HAVE FUN !!!! |
Why do I have to put up a deposit? The deposit serves two purposes. First of all, the 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. 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 .
Travel with STSC :
FL Manatee Trip - February 2008
Dive Bonaire - April 2008
St Lawrence Seaway - September 2008
FL Manatee Trip - February 2009
Liveaboard - March 7-14, 2009 4 spaces left
North Carolina - September 2009
Sunset House in Grand Cayman - 2010