While it is still too cold to dive locally we  have planned trips to Vortex and Morrison Springs in the Florida panhandle. Last weekend instructors Greg Gilkey and Mark Bannerman took students to Morrison for their checkout dives.

The visibility was incredible, estimated at 40+ feet!. Although not all specialties can be accomplished at Morrison, it is a wonderful place for Open Water checkout dives, you won’t find any better visibility within driving distance. Water temps were a constant 68 degrees, comfortable enough for a 7mm wetsuit or even a 3mm with a hooded vest, or better yet a drysuit.

During some of our upcoming Florida trips we may also try to schedule a day of boat diving out of Panama City or Destin but don’t think you can’t go diving now! Next trip is planned for January 21 and 22, call the shop to go with us on this great trip!

Local dive season will be drawing to a close soon so if you still need to do your certification dives and want the convenience of doing them locally, come dive with Bluewater Scuba this weekend and next.

October 1 and 2 and October 8 and 9 we'll be diving Pennyroyal and Martha's Quarry. Call the shop to reserve your spot and equipment.

For those of you interested in doing your dives in Florida, we have a long weekend planned for October 15-17. Saturday at Vortex Spring and Sunday/Monday at Panama City or Destin (tbd). Cost is $375 and includes entry fees, boat tickets, tanks and weights. This weekend is also Williamson County Fall Break. And you don't have to be a student to join us on these weekends. If you're just looking for fun dives, then please join us!

A group of 16 divers boarded "Pirate's Lady", a 65' sailboat, in Nassau, Bahamas on July 30 and set sail on a week-long cruise of the Exuma Cays. The weather was beautiful and the water temperatures were in the mid 80's. Joining us on the boat was a family of four, a dad and his three sons from Chicago, IL. The boys were just getting certified so on the first four dives of our trip, they completed their open water training with Tavia, the divemaster on the boat. In our group several divers also completed their Advanced Open Water certification as well as the Underwater Navigation Specialty, the Deep Diver Specialty, and the Boat Diver Specialty with Greg Gilkey and Gregg Hale. 

   

If you've never been on a Blackbeard's cruise it is the perfect trip for those that want a lot of great dives, wonderful food, fun and knowledgeable crew, and lifelong friends and dive buddies. You only need to pack light, a couple bathing suits, neoprene if you are so inclined, maybe a t-shirt or two and your dive gear. Spend the week diving, eating, relaxing, diving and eating some more. 

 

During our week at sea we were treated to reef dives, wall dives, wreck dives and a shark feed. We  stopped one day on a beautiful island which we will forever lovingly know as Schyler's Island for a walk on the beach, some swimming and a easy hike to the top of a hill for some breathtaking views. We made another quick visit to another island where we got to feed the iguanas.

One evening we anchored and were given dingy rides in to visit a beautiful small resort on Norman's Cay, where we sampled Miranda's home-brew, an excellent ale. Norman's Cay is a small island with a storied history that included drug smuggling and a 3,300 foot long runway. You can also see the wreckage of a DC-3 that crashed just off the island, part of which is still above water.

   

No one will forget our dive in "The Washing Machine".The strong incoming tide of up to 6 mph takes scuba divers thru a narrow cut where water drops off a ledge and then makes a sharp bend to the left. This causes the water to swirl like the water in a washing machine. This swirling water will toss scuba divers head over heels. After passing through the cut you glide over a large patch reef. Even members of the boat's crew said it was the most exciting dive in the Washing Machine they had ever had and one of the fastest drifts. Credit goes to Pancho, our captain, who has tried several different put-in spots and marked them on his GPS until he has found the absolute best and most exciting spot to toss his divers into the wash!

It wasn't just the scuba diving that was great. We were lucky enough to be there for the opening day of lobster season. You are not allowed to take lobster on Scuba so with a few lessons about breath-hold techniques and free diving, and some tips on how to spear "bugs", several of our  bunch jumped in and tried their hand at spear-fishing for lobster. Lucky for us the crew actually knew how to catch lobster or we might have had to share one lobster amongst the 22 of us. Instead, the crew came up with an additional 10 on opening day and another 6 or so over the next couple of days. You really haven't lived until you've had Nadia's twice-baked lobster stuffed potatoes. But then that was only one of the many dishes that came out of Nadia's galley that week. Believe me, no one is hungry on a Blackbeard's cruise.

The trip was really unforgettable for a lucky few of us who got to see a Hammerhead Shark!  Rarely seen up close, this one was not far off the anchor line when we descended and Mark B. was able to get photographic proof of the event.

We returned home on the 5th of August and immediately added next year's trip to the travel board. Stop by the shop, watch the video filmed by Brian Erickson on our trip, and sign up for next year's Blackbeards, June 16-22.

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If you would like to travel with Bluewater Scuba, visit our trip pages to see what exciting place we're diving next.

Are you ready for some amazing wreck dives in Pensacola, Florida? Let me answer that for you, YES YOU ARE! 

Bluewater Scuba in Franklin, TN is "Where Nashville Learns To Dive" and for those of you who already know HOW to dive, well...then we're "Where Nashville Goes to Book Their Dive Trips!" It's not as catchy, but it works ;)



Here are the details:


Celebrate 4th of July Weekend with Bluewater Scuba by diving an incredible shipwreck off the coast of Pensacola, Florida. This is the only aircraft carrier accessible for the majority of SCUBA divers and the largest artificial reef ever created.

The cost is $599 and includes:
- 2 Days of 2 Tank Dives

- 2 on Oriskany, 2 on Navy Tug Boat

- 3 Nights Accomodations (double occupancy)

- ADD ON: Nitrox Tank Rentals at 28% blend - $14/tank (rented in Florida) 

Not included: Transportation, training fees, equipment, meals and 3% credit card fee. Single Rate: $775.Non-Diver Rate: $359 

• Divers wishing to dive the Oriskany must have a minimum of 20 logged dives. 

• Divers must have a whistle, safety sausage, dive computer, gloves, and pressure gauge. 

• Open Water Divers without an advanced certification or a deep diver specialty certification will be required to dive with a Divemaster/Guide and must have completed 2 logged dives within the last year or complete a refresher. 

• Advanced Divers or those with deep diver specialty certifications must have completed 2 logged dives at or below 80’ in the last year to dive without a Divemaster/Guide. 

• Bring your certification card and log book. 

Call the shop to book your spot: 615-771-0002

$300 deposit. Balance due June 7, 2011.

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Bluewater Scuba is the only PADI 5 Star IDC in Middle Tennessee with an onsite training pool. What does this mean? You have the convenience of training in the only facility in town where it's all under one roof. Work in one of our spacious classrooms with your instructor, and then step right in the pool to practice the skills you just discussed. You don't have to cart all of your gear to another location. It's all here! And whether you're a beginning diver or someone who's ready to "go pro" and pursue a professional diving career, Bluewater Scuba can train you all the way to the top. Stop by the shop in Franklin, TN today and see for yourself.