Eco Dive Center Newsletter Archives

Spring Into Summer Dive News

Eco Divers Summer is here and with it the best of the season for scuba in southern California. Our charters are filling up, classes are in full swing and we have plenty of cool new gear in the shop. This summer were adding to our popular Saturday and Sunday Channel Islands trips. For a mini vacation check out our two-day charters that give you a chance to experience some less well-known dive sites and get to dive them at night. The air and water are warming up, the sun is out. Its diving time.

Eco Divers Club Meeting Announcement - This Tuesday Night June 5th 7pm- Eco Divers will offer an introduction to rebreathers by the man who literally "wrote the book" on them. Jeff Bozanic is a noted rebreather expert and the author of Mastering Rebreathers. Jeffs in-depth knowledge and background will provide an overview on the advantages and pitfalls of rebreather diving and provide a thorough follow-up to the presentation in April. So bring your questions, and prepare to learn more about this exciting way to dive. Beginning open water divers to experienced technical divers will find his presentation interesting and exciting, so dont miss this months Eco Divers meeting. Jeffs discussion will start at 7:00 PM, so show up early and meet with other divers. Directions to Club Meeting

Rescue Diver! Rescue Diver! Scuba enjoys an excellent safety record in part because of the knowledge and skills taught in the Rescue Diver course. When you complete the course you’ll have the confidence that comes from knowing you can handle these situations. Rescue Diver is challenging and many divers say it’s among their most rewarding experiences.

Knowledge, Skills, Equipment and Experience are the four pillars of being a comfortable and confident diver. As a Rescue Diver you’ll build on all four.

Schedule:

June 12,13,14 (evenings) 16 & 17 (all-day) OR July 24,25 26 (evenings) 28 & 29 (all-day)

More Info

The season has begun and we have certainly kicked it off at the shop with some great Summer Specials for full set-ups of gear. If you have been thinking about purchasing your own equipment, now is definitely the time to do it. With such a wide selection brands, the shop staff can help every diver, within any budget, find equipment they will love.

ALL DIVER PROMO: If you purchase a full set-up (regs w/octo, BCD, gauges, computer, knife, light, bag, wetsuit and weights) you will get a 10% discount on the entire purchase... AND get a FREE steel tank (LP77)... AND free pool practice time (to try out all your fun new gear)... AND a FREE boat ticket on MR.C!!! There has never been a better time to buy your own gear. After all, those that own their own gear, dive more, and dive with confidence... now all you will need are the air fills ;) So come in and one of our shop staff will be happy to help you get outfitted for this summer dive season! -"DAFFY"

Los Angeles County Has 7 of the 10 Most Polluted Beaches In California. A number of years ago, I was sitting on my surfboard watching the sun rise and realized that the water didn’t smell so good. Walking back to my car, I picked up a cigarette butt and two plastic bags. A few days later I developed a rash. The beach was dirty. The water was polluted. On May 23rd, Heal the Bay released their annual California Beach Report Card for 2006-2007. The results for those of us in Los Angeles were not so good. Although California has hundreds of miles of coastline, Los Angeles County lays claim to 7 of the 10 most polluted beaches. Among these beaches are Long Beach, Avalon Beach, Surfrider Beach and the beach at the Santa Monica Pier. A polluted beach means that swimmers face a higher risk of contracting illnesses such as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections and skin rashes than swimmers at cleaner beaches. In order for us to continue to enjoy our beaches and pass them along to our children to enjoy, we must do our part to reduce pollution and repair the damage that has already been done. Read the Baykeeper Beach Report Card and join Eco Dive Center next month for our beach cleanup. Get educated then help educate others regarding personal responsibility. http://www.healthebay.org/news/2007/05_23_brcannual/default.asp

“What’s the Island Time?” you ask. It’s a fast 20+ knot dive boat that makes half-day trips on the weekends out to Catalina quick and easy. “Half day?” you ask. “How can that be?” Well, the travel time is only an hour and 10 minutes each crossing of the Channel (fast ship). And, the boat comes equipped with two tanks already filled per diver (aluminum 80s). That means that you spend less time between dives waiting for refills. Does it offer any other special accommodations? You bet it does. There are spaces for divers to bring their own tanks if they prefer, including doubles, which is becoming increasingly popular. Also provided are fold out chairs, a camera table, snacks and sandwhiches, sodas, water, shower, great tunes and a fun crew. Island Time Promo For All of 2007: Buy Two Tickets and Get One Free. By Aquaman

Two Day Trip to San Nicolas and Santa Barbara Island -Spend two days at sea on the Pacific Star, one of the nicest boats in Southern California. The boat will head out to San Nicolas Island, more than 60 miles offshore. Considered by many to have some of the best diving in California, you’ll get in 8-9 dives this weekend. San Nicolas, once solely the playground of the US Navy, is one of the most pristine dive areas of Southern California. On the way back home, we’ll stop at Santa Barbara Island for some additional diving among the Sea Lions at the famous rookery. All the meals, air fills and accommodations are included on this wonderful trip. Price and Info

Beth in Action..Woooowee! Beth earns her Master Instructor Rating! by Ron Beltramo

Look at her in Action! WOWWEE... like Borat would say! Beth Dorso has worked very hard to earn her Master Instructor rating and Co-Ownership of Eco Dive Center... Cheers to Beth, Were proud of you! More About Beth

The Master Instructor rating is unique in the PADI Education System – it is the one rating that you do not earn through training. You earn it by exemplifying what it means to be a PADI Instructor in what you do. What it takes to get this rating

More New Divers!

Its been a busy season, and a lot of apsiring divers have come through the doors. It may not have been easy all the time, but Eco Dive Center is very proud of its long list of alumni -- from brand new Open Water Divers to those completing an Instructor Development Course. Its hard work getting it done but wait, the fun has just begun. Check out our 2007 Open Water graduates in training.

Pass it along. Even better, refer a friend to the Open Water Diver Course at Eco Dive Center and earn 50 Eco Bucks. Plus, youll make a dive buddy for life!

Dive Dive Dive!
Warmer weather and warmer water brings out more divers! Thats not a problem at Eco Dive Center because weve booked more boats for the summer season. More boats and more unique dive trips means youll have more opportunities to dive. This season will also feature more trips for experienced divers taking you to those favorite sites like Farnsworth Banks, Italian Gardens, Ship Rock...

We have 2 or 3 -- and even 4 -- boats booked every weekend because we dont want to turn you away! Of course, booking your spots early guarantees you wont be faced with a weekend of sold out boats! Check out the boat schedule and figure out what dives you dont want to miss!
If all this diving isnt enough, then consider heading out on one of the multi-day trips . These rare diving opportunities pack all the punch of a vacation in an affordable weekend.

Beach Clean Up, Party and Bon Fire on August 1st-
Eco Dive Center, along with Heal the Bays Adopt-a-Beach program, is sponsoring a Beach Clean-Up and Bon Fire Beach Party on Wednesday, August 1 at 5:00 PM. Meet up with your Eco Dive Center buddies and sweep the beach leaving nothing but sand behind. Follow-up the clean-up with a bon fire and beach party! The bon fire starts after the clean-up, so come on by after work, make the beach a better place and hang loose with Eco Divers.

Bring your non-diving buddies – theres not a dive associated with this months clean-up – and they can get a special deal on certification just for helping! Families and kids (with a parents consent and signed release, naturally!) are definitely welcome. Call the shop at (310) 398-5759 to RSVP or email jeremy@ecodivecenter.com or jana@ecodivecenter.com. The clean-up is on Dockweiler Beach at 12000 Vista del Mar in Playa del Rey... Look for the Eco banner and dive flag.

For The Ladies Only Ladies, check out our new Mares ‘She Dives’ line. These BCD’s, regulators, fins, and masks are designed for comfort, wearability, and performance…. perfect for serious female divers. She Dives products feel great, look hot, and offer new high tech accessories. Drop by to take a look and we can put together the perfect package for you. MARES

For The Guys Only- All right guys, youve been asking for rubber drysuits and here you go. Eco is now a Viking dealer for all those heavy duty divers wanting outstanding chemical protection when operating in contaminated and polluted waters.

Viking also has recreational drysuits starting at $1100.0 and dont make you look like THOR. Check it!