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.

TRASHFEST!!!!  Okay, this is sort of a past-event, future-event entry.  Thanks to everyone who helped with the San Felipe Creek cleanup on the 19th.  We pulled a lot of junk from the creek -- with the assistance of the back hoe and members of the City of Del Rio crew.  We even got a nice mention and a couple of photos in the paper!  Now, to the future event.  In case you've never heard of it, every year divers come from literally all over the world to participate in the largest cleanup effort in the world in New Braunfels, TX.  They meet at the Comal River and it becomes literally a competition on who can pull out the most volume, the most unique garbage, the heaviest, etc.  You can visit www.trashfest.net for all the details.  If you are interested in trying to put together an actual team for this year's event -- scheduled for 4 October -- let us know!

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!

PADI Instructor:  Robert Wade, #234370.

Dive Classes:  We have Basic Open Water classes the weekend of 19 September and Advanced the weekend of 8 August.

Dive Trips:  As it stands, we have the following trips planned:

6 September - Gulf coast (the Texas Clipper)

AMISTAD OUTPOST: SCUBA & MORE!  The owners, Lana and Tom Sutherland, are back from DEMA, and they came back with a lot of great info and ideas.  If you have suggestions, questions about gear or places to scuba dive at Lake Amistad, please 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.  Air Fills, 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.  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!

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.