If you've already decided you'd like to join the Del Rio Dive Club you can download the necessary forms in the JOIN and CLUB INFO links.  You do not have to be a member to attend meetings.

Dive Trip to the Florida Keys.  We've toiled over where to go this year and have settled on the Keys.  Given the economic challenges many face we felt the easiest trip would be to Florida.  Having done some diving there and around Boca Raton I can say the Keys are some of the finest diving we've experienced, and all in our own back yard!  The key to success will be participation!  The more involved, the cheaper it can be.  Join us the week of 14 June 2009.

BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT FREE DISCOVER SCUBA EVENT!!!  Never tried SCUBA?  Curious enough to experience it in the comfort of a pool?  Contact us about the next Discover Scuba event!  The Ramada Inn of Del Rio allowed the Del Rio Dive Club to use their heated outdoor pool back on April 9th for Del Rio's first free Discover Scuba session and it was a smashing success!  Certified PADI Instructor Robert Wade conducted the event and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.  You can see just how easy and safe it is.  This PADI course is open to participants 10 years of age and older.  Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by and get the signature of a legal guardian.  This course can count toward your certification as an Open Water Diver!  Download the brochure here.  For more information or to reserve a slot (not required) call Amistad Outpost at 768-DIVE, Robert at 765-8774, Monica at 719-3058 or send an email to drdc@delriodiveclub.com.

One of the things we do in Del Rio Divers is organize various events ranging from group dives to clean-ups to training/awareness events.  Anyone planning on doing some diving is encouraged to leave a message on the FORUMS.  Check the meetings page for details on upcoming diving courses!

Balmorhea Trip A Success!   The 29 May trip to Balmorhea  State Park was great fun.  Most of us arrived Friday afternoon and knocked off a couple of beautiful dives before the crowd of divers-in-training started arriving.  The night dive, a first for some, couldn't have been better.  On Saturday the diving was still great fun, though visibility was noticeably hampered by the 30 or so new divers going through training.  All I can say is: buoyancy control and watch where your fins are.  We got to try out our new camera, and Intova 6mp digital with housing.  It cost us $99 at NewEgg.com and it, besides taking great still photographs it actually took decent video footage.  I compiled the clips into a DVD complete with music that we'll show at the next dive club meeting.  While at this price the camera doesn't come with a strobe you can easily add one.  I can highly recommend it as a good starter camera.  I've added two more albums to the gallery so you can get an idea what kind of pictures it takes.

What You're Missing On The Florida Trip:  We have all of our dives planned out for the week of 13 June and here's our itinerary:

     June 14: Afternoon - Mike's Wreck/Christ of the Abyss

     June 15: Morning - Double on the Spiegel Grove  Afternoon - City of Washington

     June 16: Morning - Benwood/French Reef

     June 17: Morning - VANDENBERG!!!!!

     June 18: Morning - Double on the Duane  Afternonn - Christ of the Abyss/N. North Dry Rocks

     June 19: No Dives (24 hours before flying after multiple days of multiple dives)

PADI Instructor:  Robert Wade, #234370.

Dive Classes for 2009:  Please check the forums for details on class costs, etc.  Special request one-on-one classes are available, though at a premium rate.  Download "Things You Should Know About Your Open Water Class"

        Basic Open Water Course:  June 26-28.  Sign up and deposit by June 5.

        Basic Open Water Course:  July 24-26.  Sign up and deposit by July 10.

        Advanced, Rescue Diver and Divemaster scheduled based on interest.  Currently we have three Advanced divers who will be finishing up Rescue Diver early this season.

Dive Trips:  We are working up details on a trip to Corpus Christi to dive the Texas Clipper.  Check our forums to keep on top of late-breaking developments.

AMISTAD OUTPOST: SCUBA & MORE.  Owners, Lana and Tom Sutherland.  Stop by their dive shop at  3806 B Veterans Blvd, Del Rio, TX.  They are an Aqua Lung dealer, but carry other brands as well.  Rentals as well as retail equipment are available.  If you're signing up for a SCUBA class you can also purchase your student materials there, too.  Visit their website here!

AMISTAD SCUBA.  Owners, Baye & Mary Wilson.  Also a good resource, particularly for air fills, Amistad Scuba carries the Sport Diver line of gear.  Located diagonally across Highway 90 from Amistad Outpost.  Stop by and give 'em a shout or visit their website here!

TIDBITS ABOUT AMISTAD:  Many of you have heard of Indian Springs. located up the Devil's River.  But have you heard of Goodenough Springs?  Back in the early 1900s the locals relied on the springs, then located up the Rio Grande, to power a waterwheel that fed water up the bluff to the surrounding land.  Of course, in 1968 they built a dam and created the Amistad Reservoir, which placed the springs well underwater.  What you may also not be aware of is that the spring still flows and that a team of technical divers began a project that culminated in dives in 2003 and 2005.  This project is called GSEP, the Goodenough Springs Exploration Project.  Their website is located at www.goodenoughsprings.org.  They have some fascinating photographs and detailed explanation of the project and the dives.  Also formerly known as Hinojosa Springs, it now is submerged in an average of 150ft of water, well below the depth of recreational divers.  In fact, as the GSEP website makes quite clear, it is one of the most dangerous cave dives in the world.  There is currently a permanent bouy marking its location and the GSEP team did extensive work to lay the guide lines through the cave and a Grim Reaper sign at its entrance.  It should go without saying, you should not attempt this dive unless you are certified in Cave Diving AND have had extensive experience and proper equipment.  This would include decompression stops and use of tri-mix tanks.