Atlantis Outfitters, Inc.

Atlantis Outfitters, Inc.
Monthly Newsletter - September 2009 Edition
Two special “Test Dive” charters have been arranged for divers to
use a wide assortment of Aqua Lung dive equipment at no charge
while enjoying a world class liveaboard experience on either a
Peter Hughes Diving’s Dancer Fleet or an Aggressor Fleet
liveaboard dive yacht. Your “Test Dive” charters are hosted by
Don Rockwell, CEO of Aqua Lung and Eric Thorstenson, Director
of Engineering and R&D at Aqua Lung.
While on board, divers will have the opportunity to try several
different BC’s, regulators, computers, masks, and fins from Aqua
Lung while exploring unique sites on the scheduled live-aboard
itinerary of the selected yacht. With the “factory team” onboard
this is the perfect opportunity to learn about the how and why’s of
different features on Aqua Lung dive equipment. In addition, each participant will receive a
complimentary Aqua Lung gear bag before their departure.
When divers board the Cayman Aggressor IV, November 14-21, 2009 they will have the opportunity
to dive the calm, clear and warm waters of the Cayman Islands which has made it a scuba diving
favorite for decades. Every week, Cayman Aggressor IV divers explore the walls and shipwrecks of
Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, weather permitting. As Aggressor Fleet’s 25th
anniversary draws to an end, a blockbuster special starting at $1795 is being offered which is a $700
savings!
Divers can then visit the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world on April 24 to May 1, 2010 when they
board Peter Hughes Diving’s Sun Dancer II departing out of Belize City. The 7 night cruise includes
up to 27 dives around Lighthouse and Turneffe reefs and includes a visit to the world famous Blue
Hole. A special Aqua Lung discount features deluxe cabins starting at $1895 per diver which is an
$800 savings!
Aqua Lung is the official dive equipment supplier for both the Peter Hughes Diving’s Dancer Fleet
and the Aggressor Fleet. Aqua Lungs’ commitment to world class designs and quality are a perfect
match for the world class liveaboard adventures offered by the two fleets. For more details and
information about Aqua Lung equipment visit: http://www.aqualung.com or stop by Atlantis
Outfitters. You can visit Aggressor Fleet on the web at www.aggressor.com or Peter Hughes Diving
at www.peterhughes.com
Join us for a fun-filled day of Drift
Diving at Niagara Parks on the Niagara
River.
Trip Leaders: Steve Woods and
Ken Teleis
Date: Saturday, September 19,
2009
Time: Meet at the marina in
Fort Erie, ON at 12:30 PM
Cost: $65 per person for two
dives.
(The fees for the boat can be paid to Steve or Ken)
You can just dive, or make your dives count toward the
PADI Drift Diver Certification. If you are doing the
certification, you will need the student kit (price is $57 and is
available at the dive store) and finish the knowledge reviews.
A fee of $80 per diver is also required (to be paid at the
dive store).
You will need to bring 2 tanks & weights. No prior experience
is necessary and the boat provides the flags /floats. The water
temperature now is about 72 degrees. Safety sausages and
surface marker buoys are optional (and available at the dive
shop if you want.)
“The Gerkin”
In a remarkable season, on
Wednesday, July 22, 2009,
Jim Herbert of Osprey
Charter took a group of divers
to yet another new wreck.
This is the third new wreck
unveiled by Osprey this
summer, and it is a prominent
one - the sandsucker "Howard
S. Gerkin." The ship was built
during World War I, and
because of a shortage of steel
it was supposedly built as a
composite vessel of both wood
and metal. It was launched in
1918 as the Canadian freighter
"T.P. Phelan" and served in
the Great Lakes until 1926
when it was bought by an
American company, converted
to a 241'x41' sandsucker, and
re-named the "Gerkin." That
same year on the night of
August 20 the ship was
traveling from Erie, PA, to
Buffalo, NY, after completing
some work at Presque Isle. A
strong wind became even
stronger, and as the wind
increased, the ship tried to
turn back to Erie. However,
there was soon a strong gale
blowing with large waves,
heavy rain, and a pounding
hail, disorienting the crew.
The ship then began to
founder in the storm. A
distress radio call was sent,
but to no avail. As a last-ditch
effort, a kerosene-soaked
mattress was set on fire on top
of the deckhouse. This gained
the attention of the railroad
car ferry "Maitland." At this
point the 20 crew - including
the ship's namesake, Howard
Gerkin, who was aboard launched the three lifeboats,
which were tied to each other
and the ship. The ship then
suddenly rolled and sank,
leaving the three lifeboats tied
to the ship at the bottom in
the storm. When the
"Maitland" arrived, it started
to collect the people aboard
the lifeboats. Unfortunately,
one of the lines broke and four
people ended up in the water
with one boat adrift. One
person was rescued the next
day barely alive by another
ship, but the overturned
lifeboat was found empty.
The remaining three people
had drowned, but Howard
Gerkin had survived the
sinking of his own ship.
A news reporter from the
Buffalo press was along for
the ride along with 14 divers,
including Jack Papes, Sam
Genco, Jimmy Herbert Jr.,
Chris Laughrey, Georgann &
Mike Wachter, Cindy LaRosa,
and Kevin Magee. The day
was overcast and cool at 75
deg F, but the seas were
acceptable at 2'.
Upon arriving at the wreck
site, Sam was the first diver in
the water, and he attached a
mooring to the wreck.
Afterwards, everyone else
entered. The ship lies
completely upside down on
the bottom with its stern
pointing north. Strangely, the
ship's construction appears
more like a barge than a ship,
possibly as a result of its
composite construction.
The stern is square with a
sloping taper up to the ship's
bottom. The bottom of the
upturned hull itself is almost
completely flat, but it has a
prominent raised keel plate
The "Gerkin" was found
that runs along the centerline
several weeks prior to the dive for the entire length of the
by Capt. Jim Herbert and
ship. The sides are at 90
sidescan sonar expertGarry
degrees to the flat bottom
Kozak.
“The Gerkin” (cont.)
with only a very slight
rounding between the two.
appears to be completely
intact.
Coming out of the sloping
portion of the stern are the
ship's two propeller shafts,
one on each side of the keel.
Each shaft comes straight out
of the sloping hull to a fourbladed propeller, and various
struts support the shaft.
Behind each propeller is a
rudder. The entire style of
construction is very plain and
utilitarian, and the rudders /
propellers form the main
focus of the wreck.
This is somewhat unusual for
a wood-planked wreck, but
several divers reported
scraping off the mussels to
reveal wood planking. The
bow is quite blunt and easily
missed while swimming
around the perimeter, further
reinforcing the ship's bargelike construction style. The
entire wreck only stands
about 5'-10' high and appears
to have buried itself deeply in
the bottom, leaving no
gunwales or gaps underneath
exposed.
It is a long swim along the
length of the hull towards the
bow, and at various points
small mussel-encrusted stubs
stick 1'-2' high out of the
bottom of the hull. It is
unknown whether these are
pipes or something else, and
their purpose is unknown.
Their placement also does not
form any obvious pattern.
The wreck is at a very
reasonable depth of 80',
allowing lots of time to
explore. Visibility was good at
30' with a warm 42-44 degree
F bottom temperature, so
some of the divers explored
off the wreck to find any
debris.
At one point amidships on the
west (port) side is a small 1'
diameter circular opening on
the side of the ship that is
near the bottom of an
excavated hole several feet
below the lake bottom.
Peering inside just revealed a
discharge pipe leading back as
far as could be seen.
The wreck is surrounded by a
1'-2' high clay wall about
30'-50' away from the wreck,
and it appears there is a slight
depression in which the ship
rests. Georgann followed
some cable off the east side of
the stern, and this eventually
led to a winch.
Otherwise, there are no gaps
or other obvious openings in
the hull, and its entire length
Cindy and Kevin went on a
heading of 255 degrees for
about 150' off the west
propeller, and they found
what appears to be a large
remnant of the dredge or
sandsucker equipment.
It is a large square-mouthed
bucket about 10' wide with flat
sides that taper down at the
back and have several
reinforcing ribs wrapping
around the sides. The bucket
points away from the wreck,
and on each side lying on the
bottom are arms made of steel
trusses. These arms end
about 30' away at a large
square base made up of more
steel trussing and wood
planking.
Most divers spent 45-60
minutes exploring the wreck,
and almost no deco was
required. There was a
thermocline at 50' with 70 deg
F water above it and 10'-15' of
visibility. The seas were
beginning to build to 2'-3'
with whitecaps after
surfacing, and the boat
returned to port after a very
successful trip to this new
wreck site!
The news story and video can
be found on Buffalo's WGRZ
Channel 2 web site.
http://www.wgrz.com/news/
local/story.aspx?
storyid=68878&catid=13
Divers and friends, the diving in the Great Lakes of North
America, is some of the best wreck diving in the world. The
cold fresh waters of the Great Lakes preserve the wood,
metal, and cargos of the schooners and steamers that have
plied these waters for two hundred years. They are time
capsules of life in the 1800's and 1900's, and these remnants of
tragedy number in the thousands. They range in depth from
one foot to over 1,000 feet (300 m), well beyond any diver's
reach.
I live in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, on the southern shore of Lake
Erie, which is the shallowest of the Great Lakes. It has a
maximum depth of 210 feet (64 m), and unlike the other
lakes, every square foot of its bottom is accessible to sport
divers. Lake Erie has a stormy reputation, and due to its
shallow nature, waves can reach frightening and dangerous
proportions in a very short time. This has resulted in
innumerable shipwrecks, all waiting to be found, explored, and
described.
To the best of my ability, I have cataloged and described the
wrecks I have explored in the Great Lakes, and I will continue
to add more material to this site as more shipwrecks are
dove.
Best Wishes and Safe Diving,
Kevin Magee
The choice is yours. The debate over a dive computer's
algorithm is over. It is no longer about whether an
algorithm is right or wrong, liberal or conservative. It is
simply about what is right for you at the current moment.
You no longer have to choose a brand based on your
decompression algorithm preference... Oceanic's given
you the choice depending on who you're diving with or
the kind of diving that you're doing, with the first dive
computer powered by our exclusive Dual Algorithm™ .
The Oceanic OC1 is an advanced all-in-one dive
computer featuring Oceanicʼs exclusive Dual Algorithm,
wireless air-integration, digital compass, remote Buddy Pressure Check, and so much
more. All in a strong, lightweight titanium housing.
• Powered by Oceanic's Exclusive Dual Algorithm™ - Your choice between Pelagic DSAT
(Spencer/Powell data basis) or Pelagic Z+ (Buhlmann ZHL-16C data basis)
• Wireless Air Integrated Technology.
• Forged Titanium Body with 660 ft / 200 m depth rating.
• Advanced Digital Compass with North, Reference, Auto Home, and Declination
Adjustment.
• Switch between 3 independent transmitters, with up to 3 nitrox mixes to 100% O2.
• Buddy Pressure Check™ allows you to remotely view your "Buddy's" air pressure.
• Advanced watch functions including alternate time zone, stopwatch, lap timer, daily
alarm, and countdown timer.
• Deep Stop with Countdown Timer.
• Gauge Mode with Run-Timer.
• User Upgradeable Firmware.
Special Introductory Price: $1,669.95
(w/USB & w/Transmitter)
Special In-Store Savings on Select
SUUNTO Dive Computers:
We have the following great dive computers in stock at the store….stop by to
check them out ! Prices
listed below are RETAIL; but were
offering VERY special discounts off these!!!!
Vyper 2 (wrist) - MRP$ 615.00
Air, Nitrox, and Gauge computer with Electronic Compass & Informative
Matrix Display
Vyper 2 (console) - MRP$ 730.00
Air, Nitrox, and Gauge computer with Electronic Compass & Informative
Matrix Display, with a Pressure gauge in the console.
Cobra 2 standard unit—MRP$ 850.00
Air Integrated Computer with Electronic Compass & Informative Matrix
Display.
D4 Wrist Computer - MRP$ 650.00 (Blue, Yellow & Black)
Full-decompression wrist style dive computer. Has 4 operating modes, dive
planning and analysis functions, and compatibility with optional Suunto Dive
Manager PC software.
D6 Wrist Computer - MRP$ 885.00 (Black only)
Advanced wrist style dive computer designed for demanding divers. It has 3
operating modes, gas-switching functionality, integrated digital compass, and
the Suunto RGBM deep stop algorithm.
Congratulations to the following divers on their
recent August certifications!
Discover Scuba
Lori Nash
Enriched Air Diver
Bill Lamb
Advanced Open Water Diver
Julia Belden
Paul Noltemeyer
Sabrina Johnson
Irvin (JR) Johnson
John Shaffer
Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver
Jeanne Stanford
Wreck Diver
Guy Corzine
Local Quarry Contact Information:
Gilboa Quarry - http://www.divegilboa.com
Nelsons Ledges Quarry - http://www.nlqp.com
Portage Quarry - http://www.portagequarry.com
White Star Quarry - http://www.whitestarquarry.com
Please check out the websites above for all the latest
information, directions, water conditions, business hours,
and hotel listings.
Let’s All Go Diving !!!
Class Schedule:
Do you know someone who wants to learn to
Dive? Are you looking to start your diving
season with a new specialty? Are you working towards your Master Scuba Diver rating
this dive season? Let us know what you
would like to see on the schedule and we will
try to fit it in. Please remember if you
would like to take a class, please let us know
as soon as you can and put down your deposit. That way you won’t get left out. If
you have any questions, please call the store
and we will be glad to help you.
Discover Scuba
October 10, 2009
Open Water Diver—Class and Pool Wknd.
October 9, 10, 11, 2009
Enriched Air—Classroom Only—
No Dives Required!
October 21, 2009 (6PM at store)
Advanced Open Water
October 14, 2009—6PM Classroom
October 17, 18, 2009—Open Water Dives
Night Diver
October 13, 2009—6PM Classroom
October 17, 18, 2009—9AM Open Water Dives
Rescue Diver (last scheduled one for season)
September 14, 21, 28, 2009 - Academics @
store (6-9 p.m.)
October 10 & 11, 2009 - Confined Water
October 18, 2009 - Openwater
Divemaster
START TODAY ! – Call us to start your
Divemaster studie
October 2009
Course Schedule
Atlantis Outfitters - Dive Club Notes
Our next DIVE CLUB MEETING IS: TUESDAY, September 15th @
7:30 PM. The speaker this month is Ken Teleis - he will be doing a
presentation on Hawaii diving !!
As usual, bring your favorite side-dish or dessert to share, favorite beverage and a
chair! We will provide the hot dogs & hamburgers.
We will be at:
ATLANTIS OUTFITTERS, INC.
3651 Apache St NW
Uniontown, OH 44685
We look forward to seeing you there for some good food & good friendship.
Dive Club Upcoming Events Schedule:
September 15th - Club Meeting @ Atlantis Outfitters (Cookout, bring a covered dish or
dessert to share)
September 20th - Club Dive @ Gilboa Quarry
October 17th - Club Dive @ White Star Quarry
October 20th - Club Meeting @ Atlantis Outfitters (cookout, bring a covered dish or
dessert to share)
October (date to be determined) - Maize Valley “The Civil War Corn Maze”
http://www.maizevalleywinery.com/cornmaze-1.htm
PLEASE NOTE: We are always looking for new & exciting ideas for our ―non-diving
club events as well as speakers for our meetings, please email them to Steven
Woods at [email protected], or the dive store at
[email protected]
Thanks - the Staff of Atlantis Outfitters !!!
Atlantis Outfitters & David Haas have teamed up
to offer our customers Ikelite Products !
Ikelite Underwater
Systems & Personal
Service !!
Atlantis Outfitters, Inc. has teamed up with
David Haas of Haas Images
(www.haasimages.com) to offer personal
consultation and sales of Ikelite Underwater
Systems.
David's knowledge of digital cameras and
systems plus real world underwater shooting
for 3 decades will enable you to get results
fast! This great value is INCLUDED FREE with
every package purchase!
Call Atlantis Outfitters today to arrange a
phone or email consultation with David!
Sample images to the right were shot with
everything from a Compact Digital to digital
SLR cameras!
Travel....with PADI Travel Network !
Dive travel offers a unique opportunity to meet other divers and share your enthusiasm
for scuba diving and underwater adventure.
Whether you’re interested in visiting a local dive site for the day, venturing out on a long
weekend road trip or traveling to a more distant destination for a week or more, the dive
travel specialists at Atlantis Outfitters (your local PADI Dive Center) can help . PADI
Travel Network offers fun group trips to worldwide destinations – what a great way to
experience a place you might not think to travel to on your own.
With nearly 20 years experience in the dive travel industry, PADI Travel Network is
―The Trusted Name in Dive Travel,‖ offering dive packages to hundreds of PADIaffiliated resorts, dive operators and liveaboard dive boats around the world. When your
trip is booked through your Atlantis Outfitters via PADI Travel Network, you can be sure
of the quality of service you’ll receive both while making your arrangements and while on
your trip.
Whether you’re looking to go with a group or build your own adventure, be sure to ask us
how PADI Travel Network can help.
Feel free to give PADI Travel Network (800-729-7234 ext. 2 or email: [email protected])
or Atlantis Outfitters a call to schedule your next scuba diving adventure! If you call
PADI Travel Network on your own, you have to mention that a Dive Center referred you
to them, and they will ask for our store name or store number (which is 11542).
We have teamed up with PADI Travel Network to
bring you this exciting dive trip!
Trip Dates:
February 20 - February 27, 2010
Dive Fantasy (All Inclusive) Package includes:
-Ground Transfers to and from the Roatan Airport.
-7 Nights Accommodations in their air-conditioned ocean
view rooms.
-Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily in their dining room or
outdoor beach bar.
-All beverages
-6 days, 3 Single Tank Boat Dives Daily
-1 Boat Night dive during the Week
-6 days Unlimited Shore Diving
Package prices:
Crazy Low Price - NOW ONLY $797.00 per person, based on
double occupancy, Single occupancy is $1101.00 per person
and Triple occupancy is $766.00 per person.
Prices include all Roatan Taxes (except departure tax
- listed below)
Nitrox Fills are available for an additional $116 per person,
including taxes.
Airfare is NOT included. We can assist you (if needed) in
getting airfare. We have found that Delta provides service
from both Akron and Cleveland; and Continental provides
service from Cleveland.
Roatan Departure tax of $32 per person (payable at Roatan
airport - payable in cash only) is NOT included. All other
Roatan taxes are included in prices above.
We require a $150 per person deposit as soon as
possible.
Nekton Diving Cruises....
“The
Most Stable Live aboard Scuba Cruise in the Diving Industry”
We have partnered up with Nekton Diving Cruises’ and can now offer you their advantage over large
cruise ships and other liveaboards or scuba cruises. Their unique SWATH design vessels (made and
built for scuba divers)—are the Nekton Pilot and the Nekton Rorqual. They are two revolutionary
Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull vessels (invented by the US Navy). These vessels provide the
smoothest ride in the industry and the easiest access for diving entries and exits. They are small
enough to provide an intimate environment, and to get to the more remote dive sites. However,
Nekton’s scuba vessels are large enough to provide stability, comfort amenities and keep the cost
to an economically affordable price.
With Nekton Diving Cruises, you'll have the opportunity to explore many remote regions in the Caribbean Sea with its abundant and exotic marine life. The time spent traveling to the reef and lugging equipment is minimized by the Nekton unique vessel design. We offer more in-water adventures with our permanent mooring systems and by diving directly from our vessel.
Whatever your desire, Nekton’s professional dive staff is ready to make each and every dive a
memorable experience. Come aboard to discover the diversity of diving in the Caribbean Sea. It is
here under the transparent waters that the real beauty of the Caribbean is found. Experience
unlimited diving on pristine reefs teeming with brilliantly colored tropical fish and sea corals. Explore famous wrecks. Swim with wild spotted dolphins. Dive breathtaking walls and blue holes.
Check out the Nekton Cruises Website for further information. We can help you book your cruise
right here at the dive store.
Aggressor Fleet....
Today, Aggressor Fleet yachts span the globe with thirteen (13) dive yachts in eleven (11) different countries and the list of exotic destinations keeps growing. The dive yachts continue to feature the finest creature comforts such as DVD players in the staterooms, rental digital cameras,
video editing centers, onboard computers and satellite communications. The commitment to service shows through the smiles of the crew members who love their jobs and undergo special training, including annual re-certifications and ―safety week‖ drills. Aggressor is committed to taking
safety even further by installing life-saving defibrillators.
Here are just a few things that make Aggressor so special:
• Experience. Aggressor Fleet has been providing the ultimate in live-aboards since 1984.
• Safety is Number One. With 13 vessels world-wide, operating every week, Aggressor boasts up
to 247,104 dives each year! Through training drills, a rigid Standard Operating Procedure and
professional crew, Aggressor yachts have minimized accidents above and below water.
• Each boat is an independently owned and operated franchise following carefully crafted
Standard Operating Procedures. (An SOP that has been copied but not duplicated). Each year, all
franchises meet for an annual meeting to exchange ideas.
• Familiar faces. Many crew members and Captains have 5-10 years on board the same boat. They
just love their job. Who wouldn’t like an office in paradise?
• Flexibility. Aggressor offers something for everyone. From photo workshops, celebrity charters
to family weeks and humpback whale snorkeling trips, Aggressor has variety and flexibility
Feel free to go to Aggressor Fleet’s website to book your trip (www.aggressor.com/onlineres) or
Atlantis Outfitters a call to schedule your next scuba diving adventure! If you call Aggressor
Fleet on your own, you have to mention that a Dive Center referred you to them, and they will ask
for our store referral code (which is AO12802 ).
Blackbeard’s Cruises...
Blackbeard's Cruises offers live aboard scuba diving adventure travel vacations to the Out Islands
of the Bahamas. Reef, wreck, wall, drift, night and shark dives are offered on each trip. Our 3
sailboats; Sea Explorer, Morning Star and Pirate's Lady, offer Caribbean diving and snorkeling
cruises to the Out Islands of the Western Bahamas.
Blackbeard's Cruises sails each Saturday for weeklong scuba diving live aboard adventure vacation
cruises to the Biminis, Grand Bahamas, Berries, Andros, Cay Sal Banks, or Nassau areas. Divers can
experience deep sea diving on the many beautiful walls. Sharks are a big draw for divers! See
Caribbean Reef tip sharks, nurse sharks, even tiger sharks on the sandy banks! Colorful reefs
teeming with marine life sit in depths of 15- 80 feet so divers of all levels enjoy the scuba diving
we offer on our Bahamas scuba diving vacations! The western Bahamas were once the hideout of
pirates and privateers... now these islands offer spectacular diving in warm, crystal clear waters
with deserted beaches as backdrop each week during our adventure travel vacations.
Aqua Cat Cruises offers a leisurely live aboard scuba diving and snorkeling adventure vacation in
the Bahamas. Each week we cruise from Nassau, Bahamas to the remote islands of the
Exumas, and especially the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the most pristine area in all the
Bahamas.
Your live aboard adventure vacation is on the 102' catamaran Aqua Cat. This is the ultimate escape
aboard your own private luxury yacht. Imagine sinking your toes into sugar sand, snorkeling or diving
among the lemon sharks and sting rays, or hiking the trails of pirates and bootleggers of years gone
by. No crowds, no set itineraries, nothing to do but sit back, relax and choose from an incredible
variety of live aboard activities including scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, sunbathing, and
island exploring.
Cat Ppalu Cruises offers a leisurely live aboard adventure in paradise. Each week we set sail from
Nassau to the Exuma Islands on the 65' sailing catamaran, Cat Ppalu. This is the ultimate escape
aboard your own private yacht.