February Open Water Dive Class

February, 2019 - Open Water Diver Class

 

Class starting February 05, 2019 - OPEN WATER DIVER certification class

 

Instructor: John Langella

 

Schedule:

 

Monday: February 4 Classroom Section #1: 6:30 – 9:30 PM

Wednesday: February 6 Classroom Section #2: 6:30 – 9:30 PM

 

Sunday:  February 10 Pool #1: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

 

Monday: February 11 Classroom Section #3: 6:30 – 9:30 PM

Wednesday: February 13 Pool #2: 7:00 PM – 9:00

 

No classes or pool February 16 - 24

Monday: February 25 Classroom Section #4: 6:30 – 9:30 PM

Wednesday: February 27 Classroom Section #5: 6:30 – 9:30 PM

 

Wednesday: March 3  Pool #3: (if needed) 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

 

 

 

Certification Referral Option: do your checkout dives in a warm climate.

 

 

The cost is $450.00 This includes the PADI Open Water Diver manual, tables, certification materials and pic card, use of open water training DVD’s and use of SCUBA equipment, wet suits and weight belts. Also included is lots of fun with an experienced staff who will not only teach you to dive but will also get you involved with dive clubs and other divers who love diving as much as you will. You will need to supply your own personal mask & snorkel, fins, boots, gloves and hood.

 

Classroom sessions are at the Giant Stride Dive Shop.  Pool session location: East Providence Boys & Girls Club, 115 Williams Ave., East Providence.

 

Full certification requires four Open Water check-out dives. They can be done with any PADI instructor around the world.

 

A 10% Student discount is offered to students for the duration of the class and 30 days thereafter. This class has no hidden costs!!! We don't just sell it WE LIVE IT! Call 401-732-8808 for more info or stop by the store to enroll.

Little Cayman Beach Resort Dive Trip 2/13/19

Giant Strides Little Cayman Beach Resort 10 day Dive Trip 2/13/19-2/23/19 Want to get away in the dead of winter and escape Februarys wrath? Want to dive Bloody Bay Wall? The 10 day trip includes Lodging, 3 meals a day, 3 dives a day and 3 cocktails, beer or glasses of wine a day. Diver Cost: $3034.00 NonDiver cost: $2433.00 (*Gratuities, Flight and  any adult beverages past the third one is on you*) Nitrox is also available but not included and night dives are $65.00 payable to the resort. Stop in or call to reserve your seats, cash or check please! Diving starts on February 13th so plan flight to arrive 2/12/19 and depart 2/23/19.....I will post my flight schedule when it becomes available (180 days prior to departure date) so you can use points or miles to get your flights. If the weather is good and seas are flat we will attempt to steam out to Cayman Brac to dive the Famous Ship Wreck "Russian Frigate 356 – MV Capt. Keith Tibet's" (*a $35.00 upgrade to go to Cayman Brac) Definitely the most popular reason new divers come to Cayman Brac is to dive the famous Russian Destroyer. She was purchased and sunk on a sandy plateau off the northeast end of Cayman Brac September 17, 1996. Jean-Michael Cousteau, a marine biologist and strong advocate for reef protection, was present for the sinking. In fact Cousteau, donning full scuba gear, rode the ship as it slowly sank to its final resting place. Slowly time is changing the wreck. Today she is loaded with corals and sponges. Fish ranging from the small secretary blenny to the goliath grouper live in her dark recesses. She is commonplace for moray eels, scorpion fish, and hawksbill turtles. Often large permits and ocean triggers are seen swimming the blue waters around the site. Even the sand holds a plethora of life; cushion starfish, garden eels, and thorny sea cucumbers to name a few. The location usually has 100’ plus visibility and no current. The stern sits in approximately 60’ and the bow in 85’ making it a shallow wreck dive and a photographer’s dream. Her 5” canons can be seen in magazines the world over.

PADI Open Water Dive Class 3/4/19

PADI Open Water Dive Class 3/4/19   INSTRUCTOR: Chris Parker Classroom sessions are at  Giant Stride Dive Shop.  Pool session location: East Providence Boys & Girls Club, 115 Williams Ave., East Providence. open Water Dives will be at Fort Wetherill. A 10% Student discount is offered to students for the duration of the class and 30 days thereafter and if you decide to purchase all your own gear we will give a significantly higher discount giving you a better than you will ever get on the internet. This class has no hidden costs!!! We don't just sell it WE LIVE IT! Call 401-732-8808 for more info or stop by the store to enroll.

Dates

Class and Pool                      March   4         Class   6:30 March   6         Pool    7:30 March  11        Class   6:30 March  13        Pool     7:30 March  18        Class   6:30 March  20        Pool     7:30 March  25        Class   6:30 March  27        Pool     7:30 April 6 and 7    Open Water Dives

 

 

The following paragraphs are the students responsibilities as well as PUNCTUALITY Academic Session (class room)

• PADI Open Water Diver Manual, Recreational Dive Planner, Diver Log Book
• Completed Knowledge reviews (from the end of each module in the Open Water manual)
• Notepad or notebook for taking notes
• Knowledge Reviews are due each class
• Must pass all test with a 70%

Confined Water Session (pool)

• Mask, Fins, Snorkel, Booties
• Log Book
• Bathing suit and towel
• Open Water Session (Ocean Dives)

• Mask Fins, Snorkel, Booties, Gloves and Hood. (Provided by student)
• Weight Belt, Regulator, Buoyancy Control Device (BCD), Wetsuit (7mm ) and tank (provided by dive shop)
• Dive Flag
• Logbook and Dive Tables (provided by dive shop)
• Proper clothing for the weather conditions, large towel
• Food snacks and drinks

Student responsibilities during academic sessions

• Student must read 2 modules of the Open Water manual prior to each class
• Knowledge reviews must be completed and handed over to the instructor prior to the class
• Passing grade for all quizzes is a 70%. Seven out of ten must be correct
• Passing grade for the final exam is a 70%. Thirty-five out of out of fifty must be correct
• Academic session begins at 6:30. If you are unable to attend, the class must be made up
• Students can not participate in the Confined Water Class (pool) sessions if the corresponding academic session has not been made up.
• Make up classes will incur an additional charge of $40

Student responsibilities during Confined Water (pool) Sessions

• You must be sized up for gear before the pool session. This must be done at least 1 day prior to the actual pool day
• You will be given gear for the pool and it is your responsibility during the time it leaves the shop or instructor, to take cares of and maintains gear.
• You will need to be at the pool 15 min before the class begins
• All equipment must be cleaned after each class
• If you are unable to attend a pool session, you must reschedule promptly. If an additional pool is necessary, an additional cost of $100 added
• All confined water work must be completed before the Open Water dives

Student responsibilities during Open Water Sessions

• All balances for the class must be paid in full
• You must pick up your gear prior to the open water dive
• It is your responsibility to rinse and dry all gear prior to returning it to the shop
• Gear is due back to the shop after the dive
• Logbooks must be updated at the end of each dive
• Students should bring a lunch and plenty of water / juice
• If you are unable to attend the open water dive, you can reschedule for the next open water class.
• If an additional open water class is necessary, an additional cost of $100 be added

TDI ADVANCED NITROX AND DECOMPRESSION PROCEDURES CLASS

ADVANCED NITROX AND DECOMPRESSION PROCEDURES CLASS. INSTRUCTOR: RICK SIMON Classroom sessions will be at Giant Stride Schedule Dive schedule will be determined in the classroom. This is your opportunity to go beyond advanced open water and hit some of the deeper wrecks this state has to offer like The Bass, The Dixon, The Voland, the Cape Fear and more. TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedure is the next step in Tech Diving and at a great price....just $1025.00 When these 2 classes are taught together classroom time is about 8 hours instead of 12 hours and only 8-10 dives rather than 12. Of course this is a class for those who are VERY COMFORTABLE in the water. Tanks and regulators can be rented but it is recommended that at this stage in your diving that you have your own gear. As a Giant Stride Student you will receive a 10% discount on gear. The TDI Advanced Nitrox course is for those divers who want to optimize their gas mixes when planning dives up 150ft. During the course you will be taught how to effectively use EANx 21 through 100% oxygen. The main objective is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for utilizing 21-100% oxygen for dives NOT requiring staged decompression. (Decompression techniques may be combined with this course at the discretion of the instructor.) Prerequisites: · Minimum age: 15 unless taught in conjunction with the TDI Decompression Procedures course and then 18 is the minimum age. · Minimum certification: TDI Nitrox or equivalent. · Logged dives: Minimum of 75 open water dives, or the equivalent at the discretion of the instructor, in the environment in which the course is being presented. · The instructor has final approval on accepting anyone into the class even though minimum requirements have been met. Course Minimums: · Classroom/Briefings- Approximately 6+ hours · Open water dives- 4 (with a minimum accumulated bottom time of 100 minutes). Required Equipment: The following equipment is the minimum required for each student: · Manifolded double Tanks and stage bottle · Submersible pressure gauge · Depth gauge and automatic bottom timer and/or dive computer · Back-plate/wing · Exposure suit adequate for the open water environment (dry suit highly recommended) · Tank and regulator properly labeled and cleaned as required for EANx mixtures · Access to an oxygen analyzer (instructor may supply) Required Subject Areas: · Physics – review on pressure · Physiology- review of hypoxia, oxygen toxicity (whole body/OTU's, CNS toxicity), nitrogen narcosis, nitrogen absorption and elimination, carbon dioxide toxicity, carbon monoxide toxicity · Formula work-best mix calculations, MOD for mix calculations · Equipment considerations- up to 40% and above 40% use of oxygen · Dive tables-EAD use with any table, computer generated tables · Dive computers-air, nitrox and multi gas · Dive planning-Operational: gas requirements, O2 limitations, Nitrogen limitations · Common mixing procedures-Partial pressure, continuous blending, membrane separation system · Decompression-EANx usage as a deco gas, 100% O2 for deco, Advantage/disadvantages of multiple gas switches. Required Open Water Skills: · Properly analyze gas mixtures · Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning; Limits based on personal gas consumption, limits based on O2 exposure at planned depth, limits based on nitrogen absorption at planned depth with actual mix Graduation Requirements: · Satisfactorily complete the TDI Advanced Nitrox Course written exam · Complete ALL open water requirements safely and efficiently · Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution. Required Academic materials: · TDI Advanced Nitrox Student manual · TDI EAD Tables TDI Decompression Procedures This course examines the theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. It is designed as a stand-alone course or it may be taught in conjunction with such TDI courses as Advanced Nitrox. The main objective is to train divers how to plan and conduct a standard staged decompression dive not exceeding the maximum depth of 150 fsw unless taught in conjunction with the TDI Advanced Nitrox. The most common equipment requirements/configurations, gear set-ups, decompression techniques and decompression mixtures are presented. Prerequisites: · Minimum age 18 · Minimum of 25 logged open water dives, or the equivalent at the discretion of the instructor, in the environment in which the course is being presented. · The instructor has final approval authority on accepting anyone into the class even though minimum prerequisites have been met. Course minimums: · Classroom/briefing - approximately 6 hours · Open water dives - 4 Required Equipment: · Primary cylinders- Cylinder volume appropriate for planned dive and student gas consumption and with reserve gas. · Decompression Mix Cylinders- Cylinder volume appropriate for the planned dive and student gas consumption with gas reserve. SPG's required on stage cylinder/regs. Cylinders labeled in accordance with TDI standards. · Depth gauge and automatic bottom timer and/or dive computer. (Back up bottom timing and depth gauge highly recommended). · Regulators-Primary and alternate second stage required on all primary cylinders. SPG's are required on all cylinders. · Back-plate adequate for equipment configuration. · Jon-line and other rigging lines as dictated by site conditions. · Ascent reel with lift bag/surface marker buoy. Line on reel adequate for planned depth. Minimum 50lb lift bag. · Exposure suit adequate for maximum planned depth. Argon may be used for dry suits. · O2 analyzer (may be supplied by the instructor) · Underwater slate. · If using doubles/twin tank kits: isolator manifold with two regulators. 7' hose to be on the primary regulator. DIN valve manifolds preferred. Required Subject areas: · Overview of decompression "safety stops" compared to required stops. · Physics-pressure review, formulas for solving dive planning, MOD, Best Mix, etc. · Physiology-Mechanics of bubble formation, Oxygen toxicity (whole body-out's and CNS), advantage of hyperoxic mixes for decompression, Nitrogen absorption and elimination, Carbon Dioxide Toxicity, Ascent/Descent rates, Hyperthermia, Hypothermia, Psychological aspects-task loading, stress, panic, time management, equipment. · Decompression Options- air, nitrox, oxygen, air breaks during deco · Equipment considerations-twin cylinder or single cylinder option, valve options. Stage cylinder options, regulator options, harness/BCD options, computer, depth gauge, bottom timer options, ascent and navigations reels, lift bags/surface marker buoys for drifting or free deco, jon-lines or Garvin clips, proper weighting and buoyancy control during dive phase and deco. · Dive tables vs. Computer-Intro and review of different models, proper use of electronic multi level computers for dive planning and deco, mix adjustable, O2 integrated, Deco planning software use. · Dive planning-standard operation, gas requirements, oxygen limitations, and nitrogen limitations. Emergency planning-omitted deco, oxygen toxicity, DCS/DCI, equipment failure. · Procedures o Primary and decompression gas-normal operations, failure, loss or inadequate emergency procedures. Analysis and logging. Safeguards and deco supply regulators. Rigging and deployment of deco gear. o Descent-Methods of entry, down lines or free descent. Organization of equipment carried by a diver. Ascent -variable rates. Trim and buoyancy compensation.  Fixed or Drifting Deco methods- up lines fixed to bottom. Reels and lift bags/surface marker buoys. Free drifting stages or live boat supply. Self contained versus surface supply/rendezvous gas cylinders. o Support-From shore. From descent line or fixed platform. From live boat. Required Open Water Skills: The students must complete the following open water skills during open water dives. The recommended maximum depth for this course is 130 fsw unless combined with other TDI courses where more advanced depth techniques are incorporated into the program. · Properly analyze all gas mixtures and label cylinders accordingly. · Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning-Limits based on personal and team gas consumption. Exact dive and decompression profiles. · Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits- Assembly of diver carried equipment. Proper descent/ascent rates. Proper staged stop procedures. Monitoring of decompression status equipment (tables, computers, other equipment). · Contingency Situation & Problem Solving-Omitted decompression. Extended bottom time profiles with increased decompression and re-calculated schedules. Failure to deploy lift bag and reel. Missed up-line or missed boat anchor. Loss of decompression gas. · A safety stop of at least three minutes shall be conducted on all no-decompression dives and proper staged decompression stops whenever and wherever mandated. · Demonstrate the correct deployment of a lift bag using a dive reel and/or up-line. · Demonstrate (simulated) emergency gas sharing at a stationary depth not to exceed 100 fsw or a PO2 of 1.6ATA. · Demonstrate emergency deployment of a backup regulator or bailout scuba system containing bottom mix at a depth not exceeding 100 fsw or a PO2 of 1.6ATA. · Demonstrate the proper deployment, management and use of the bottom mix; decompression mix and travel mix if used. Conservative gas management. Depth control to avoid descending to deep for mix. Show appropriate and timely responses to instruction/signals form the instructor and demonstrate buoyancy control and awareness throughout the dive. Graduation requirements: Satisfactorily complete the TDI Decompression Procedures Course written exam. Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently. Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution. Cost: $1025.00 and includes books (TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures Diver manual) and C-cards. Not included are boat charter fees as needed and gas mixture fees for deco/nitrox mixes. You must have DAN hyperbaric insurance or the equivalent to participate. Please bring DAN and other cert cards when you sign up. Academic schedule @ Giant Stride Dive Shop: Monday March 18 @ 6:30pm Monday March 25 @ 6:30pm Monday April 1 @ 6:30pm Monday April 8 @ 6:30pm Dive schedule TBD in classroom to accommodate everyone involved.  

Annual North Carolina Wreck Diving Adventure 6/14-6/20/19

June 14, 2019 -MOREHEAD CITY NORTH CAROLINA TRIP  Dive the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” with Giant Stride Dive Shop on our annual pilgrimage to NC!  I've been coming  back here every year since 2003 because the diving is freaking awesome. Come home with some Meg teeth, great memories of Great wrecks with Sand Tiger Sharks at good price with great viz! We will dive in Wilmington, NC on 6/14 first to do a Megalodon Shark Tooth (2 tank dive) then back to Morehead with Olympus Dive Center on 6/15 - 6/20 on some awesome shipwrecks in 80 to 130 fsw, viz is 40 to 100 ft. Water temp. is in the 80's! You can view the wrecks we will dive at www.olympusdiving.com. I'll drive down on the evening of 6/12 at around 6pm to avoid traffic so I can take my own tanks and gear arriving sometime in the afternoon in Wilmington. (you can rent tanks and lead from Olympus if you Fly & don't want to drive.) Wilmington is a 16 hour drive Morehead is 2 hours north of that. You must have an Advanced Open Water Cert. (that means bring it with you), SMB, safety sausage or liftbag, whistle and we recommend a redundant air source. A Dive Computer and Hyperbaric Insurance is also mandatory! (DAN Insurance or equivalent) Call 4o1-7three2-8808 for more info or just come in and sign up, and leave a deposit to insure your spot. Deposits constitute a commitment and are non refundable. Call the Store to let me know you're interested. The cost for 2 Megalodon Tooth dives and 6 days of 2 tank wreck diving and lodging in a Motel in Wilmington and a Beach front house in Atlantic City Beach is  $1675.00 CC, cash or check. A $500.00 Deposit is required to hold your spot No exceptions. A $50.00 discount will be deducted for those paying in full before March 10th.