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aPRIl 2010

the official publication of the padi diving society

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+photo tips: how to pump up your images page 27

padi diving society’s photo contest Winner page 24

u.s. $4.99

sportdiver.comapRil 2010 vol. 18 no. 3

the best dive of Your life >bahamas sharks page 44

>bermuda Wrecks page 36

>colombia secrets page 52

ultimate tools to complete Your kit165 dive tRips Kids

Will totally love

Your Ticket to Adventure & Travel Around the Diving WorldGetaways

Kid Stuff5 Trips To geT Your fAmilY exciTeD AbouT Diving

or some couples, having kids means the end of diving as they knew it. but what if you could raise a new little buddy? somebody

to share everything you love about the sport, and to carry on your pas-sion for the living seas. While you fantasize about that, here’s a look at a few ways to grow your own, with the help of Kids sea camp, broadreach Academic Treks and odyssey expedition — no babysitter required.

padi.com april 2010 61

Broadreach students explore Saba’s Man O’ War Shoals.

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Getaways

padi.com april 2010 65

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* Price is per diver based on double occupancy and does not include airline fees and taxes. Subject to change and availability. PADI Travel Network License CSOT #2063948-40 & Fla. Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST36173

Reserve your space today by contacting your local PADI Dive Center or Resort or contact PADI Travel Network at 800 729 7234 (US and Canada) or +1 949 858 7234 ext. 2555 or ptn1@padi.com.

Join PADI Diving Society at Sunset House in Grand Cayman for a week’s worth of fun and great diving. Packages start at $1659 US*.

Sponsored by:

EvENT HIGHlIGHTS:

v Seven nights accommodations

v Four days of two-tank boat diving and unlimited shore diving

v Caribbean Nights Party with live band

v Underwater poker run, contests and free gifts for all attendees

v Breakfast daily

padi.com/totalsub

SubmersionTotal

1-8 May 2010Grand Cayman

Sunset House, 2010

BN_016087_SPD0410.indd 1 1/27/2010 4:18:13 PM

Family ReunionKids sea camP, GRaNd caymaN

he FiRsT yeaR I went to Kids Sea Camp at Grand Cayman, I was 10

and became certified as a PADI Jr. Open Water Diver. Now I’m 16 and have been to three KSCs here — and I love to dive and meet new friends each time.

Cobalt Coast Resort and Divetech have a waterfront location, with the boats docked right behind the pool and res-taurant. Divetech owners Nancy and Jay Easterbrook make everyone welcome.

At night, we take walks and watch bioluminescent plankton swim out of the darkness. There are little her-mit crabs that the kids love to catch. And every year there’s a bonfire on the beach, where dive instructors and fami-lies roast marshmallows.

One of the unique things available

eeNaGeRs TeNd To take things for granted. It’s easy to do when

life is served to us on a silver platter, but what happens when we’re living on a catamaran for two weeks with 12 peo-ple and limited resources? Eyes begin to open, and true appreciation develops for simple things: restaurants, flush-ing toilets and showers. Along with this grows our appreciation of the ocean and the infinite life it holds. Waking up to a Caribbean sunrise every morn-ing and going to bed to the sound of waves rocking the boat under the star-ry Caribbean sky is an experience in it-self. But Broadreach Academic Treks’ Caribbean Marine Conservation adven-

ture also teaches students about marine life through firsthand experience. This means diving, and a lot of it.

The vast Caribbean and lively reefs of St. Eustatius National Marine Park were overwhelming. Each dancing sea fan was decorated by flamingo tongues, and schools of black durgons seemed to follow us everywhere.

What’s incredible about diving in

Scooters are a big draw at KSC Cayman.

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Quick Guide divetech padi Five-star resort and National Geo-graphic center • Boats: Atatude, 16 divers, three staff; Ten Ata, 12 div-ers, three staff • Nitrox, trimix and rebreather support • Gear and camera rental • Free computer use • Guided tours • max dive time 60 min on boats • airport: owens roberts international • padi instruction to divemaster cobalt coast resort one- and two-bedroom oceanfront rooms and suites, free WiFi in bar • cobaltcoast.com

during KSC is a private tour of the Cay-man Turtle Farm at Boatswain’s Beach. Another is Stingray City, where the ani-mals glide by in their natural habitat.

KSC also means learning new skills. In the PADI Digital Underwater Pho-tography specialty, participants get their own SeaLife underwater camera to keep. We also got to dive with under-water scooters, a new adventure for us — fast and fun. — Melissa Guarino

marine reserves is that they are virtually untouched by humans. The result: reefs overflowing with life. Our voyage visited three: St. Barthélemy Marine Reserve, St. Eustatius National Marine Park and Saba National Marine Park. We were given the opportunity to speak with re-serve employees and local islanders, giving a clear view of the importance of marine life and conservation.

On Statia, we actively assisted by participating in a beach cleanup. Within an hour our trash bags were filled, leav-ing time to frolic on the beach. Moments later, marine-park employees rushed over holding a large bucket containing 127 delicate green-sea-turtle eggs. The eggs were lying in an erosion zone and had to be moved. It was up to us to build them a nest. We took turns pretending our arms were turtle fins, scooping out sand to form a hole and gently placing the eggs into their new home.

On this 22-day trip, we resided on a catamaran for two weeks and in eco lodg-es in the rainforest of Saba for one. The time spent was more than rewarding, sub-jecting me to different cultures, ocean life as I had never experienced it and opportu-nities to make a visible difference in these island communities. Now I no longer take 30-minute showers. I savor every moment spent in a good restaurant. And I cherish flushing the toilet. — Claire Caillouet

Savor Every MinutebRoadReach academic TReKs, caRibbeaN maRiNe coNseRVaTioN

Saba’s Man O’ War Shoals is a perfect classroom; time to cut loose après dive.

sportdiver.com/broadreachmore on the web

Quick Guide broadreach academic treks padi Five-star Gold palm Facility • Boats: caribbean programs use 46-foot catamaran yachts and 50-foot monohulls, 10 to 12 students each • Nitrox • Gear, computer and camera rental • Guided tours • instruction from discover scuba diving to open Water scuba instructor • airport for this program: st. maarten in the Netherlands antilles • amenities: Broadreach offers more than 30 programs in 35 countries. • academictreks.com

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www.sportdiver.com/caymanislandsmore on the web