Hello Divers!
We have all kinds of things to tell you about but first, be sure to turn on The Outdoor Channel this Sat, Nov 1st at 11am. This will be the season premier of the show Gold Fever, episode “Treasure Keys”. The stars of the show, Tom and Kia Massie, flew all the way from California and Alaska to Birmingham to let SSDS teach them how to dive. We put them through their paces just like we have done the rest of our students for over 60 years now. Much of the program has Forrest and Spencer teaching the hosts here at The SCUBA School as well as their certification dives in Panama City, FL. We also make a special visit to Bill Tant’s “Captn SCUBA House” in St. Andrews Marina. This will also be the first time that the rarest of all dug relics has been filmed on a Nationally Televised Show. Steve recovered and preserved this artifact and goes in to detail about what it was used for during the War Between the States. We know that the Massie family could have gone anywhere to earn their certification and we are very thankful that they chose to do it with us!
Last month we also had Fred Hunter and the Absolutely Alabama channel 6 team come by Southern Skin Divers Supply and film Forrest and Spence for an episode that will be broadcast in December. Forrest gave a tour of the Scuba School and what we do. Spence took Fred on a scuba experience in our pool to get him interested in becoming a diver. Be watching for this show also.
TRIPS
November 8,9 and 22,23 Panama City, FL Flounder trips
If you have seen the pictures in years past where our groups will have one to two hundred Flounders in a day, it is during this time of year. It is hard to beat the table fare of a fresh Flounder and the water is not too cold yet either. The boat rides are short and usually shallow depths . This is great for new spearfishers and very experienced ones alike. A speargun is not necessary, a pole spear and goody bag work much better. Again, SSDS, has privately reserved this vessel too.
January 31, Feb 1 Crystal River, Rainbow River manatee trip
This weekend we will be doing two days of diving and snorkeling with the Manatee in Crystal River as well as drift diving down the Rainbow River. These giant Mammals enjoy the constant 72 degree water temp during the winter time, making this the best time of year to see them. Kids and non divers are welcome to come on this one.
March 28-April 4 Cayman Islands Liveaboard
The New Years trip to the Bahamas is sold out and we are down to 5 spaces available on our Spring Break trip to the Cayman Islands. This is a very luxurious boat with great food and world class diving. This boat consistently is our best overall vacation dive trip and is the one we have used for several years.
Holiday Equipment Specials
SSDS is the best place for the absolute best coolers on the market, Pelican Coolers. We have every size and color they make including the brand new 20 qt model. They will hold ice for up to 10 days and come with a Lifetime Warranty. We use these like crazy on our spearfishing trips. Those of you that have a hunter, fisher or drinker on your Christmas list and don’t know what to get them, come see us! Also, from now until the end of the year all of our wrist computers come with a wireless transmitter at 50% off!
Continuing Education
Dec 6th, 9:30 am at The SCUBA School – Enriched Air NITROX 
Have you ever dreamed of having longer no-decompression limits to take pictures or explore a wreck? Did you ever want to be safer while diving, reducing the potential risk of decompression sickness? Nitrox is the key. Due to the reduced fraction of nitrogen in your breathing gas, your body will have less work and the de-saturation times will be reduced. In your ENRICHED AIR NITROX program you will learn all the necessary rules for planning dives with Nitrox and using Nitrox in a safe way. An important key point in the entire program is analyzing your own tank prior to any Nitrox dive.
Dec 6th, 12:30 pm at The SCUBA School – Spearfishing Clinic
Those of you that are enrolled in the NITROX Course might want to consider the Spearfishing Clinic that starts immediately afterwards. NITROX works well with most of the spearfishing that we participate in. Forrest, who teaches both of these courses here at The SCUBA School, is ranked among the top competitors in the Alabama Spearfishing Association as are several of his former students. In this class you will learn skills necessary to participate in and become a successful spearfisher.
Give us a call at the Scuba School if you are ready to go diving on any of these adventures.
Forrest Phillips
Southern Skin Divers Supply
4515 5th Ave. South
Birmingham, AL. 35222
205-595-3052
www.ssdsupply.com
