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Get your back in shape for diving!

One month to dive fitness!

Sunday, July 23^rd 9:30 a.m.

On the anniversary of the sinking of the Lady Luck, Shipwreck Park Inc. will hold the 1^st annual Lady Luck Underwater Poker Tournament. This is a real live underwater Texas holdem tournament. There is no buy-in or money involved, the tournament is free. They will crown the underwater poker champion on the sunken Lady Luck. The tournament is not for poker professionals, anyone can enter as it is all for fun. Spectators are welcome.

Here is how it works: Qualifying rounds will be held on-line. The final six players win a free dive trip to compete for the championship on the poker table of the sunken ship Lady Luck with special Lady Luck cards and chips. The winner will be crowned the 1^st Annual Lady Luck Underwater Poker Champion and will receive a trophy, prizes and will be featured on Scuba Nation TV! In addition, the winner will be the first diver on the Okinawa which Shipwreck Park will be sinking on August 19^th off Pompano Beach.

Video and still pictures will be available immediately after the event.

To register, email your name and phone number to info@southfloridadiving.com. You will be emailed an invitation link to the Lady Luck online poker group with instructions and rules. The event dates are as follows:

July 16^th           Registration Ends

July 17^th           Practice game (optional) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

July 18^th           On-line games scheduled between 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

July 19^th           Six finalists announced

July 23^rd          Underwater Poker Final Dive Boat Departs 8:30 a.m. from Sands Harbor Marina 125 Riverside Drive

For more information call 954-783-2299.

Durham, NC (July 1, 2017) – DAN Risk Retention Group (DAN RRG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Divers Alert Network® (DAN®) today announces the availability of Professional, General, and Group Liability programs for the 2017-18 program year. Now available, DAN’s suite of liability programs offer critical risk management tools to all dive professionals and dive businesses. DAN’s decades of experience management, risk mitigation, and insurance services make it a natural choice for dive professionals a businesses in need of a way to manage their own risks and keep divers safe.

Policies are available for dive professionals at every level – Instructors, Divemasters, Free Diving and Swimming Instructors, those in training, and those who have retired. Additionally, all DAN Professional Liability programs are backed by two of the largest reinsurance companies in the world – Lloyds of London and Gen Re, ensuring the security and long-term viability of the program.

To enroll, visit DAN.org/Liability/Pro, or contact the DAN Professional Member Department by email at LiablityInsurance@DAN.org or phone at +1 (919) 490-2934 from 8:30 AM to 5 PM EST Monday – Friday.

About DAN: DAN is the world’s most recognized and well respected dive safety organization, with more than 35 years of commitment to the safety and wellbeing of divers. DAN’s research, medical services programs and global response initiatives have created an extensive network capable of providing divers around the world with vital services – from the prevention of accidents through safety programs and education to the facilitation of lifesaving evacuations. To learn more or to become a DAN member, visit DAN.org.

Neal Watson's Bimini Scuba Center Sinks Multiple Wrecks Off North Bimini

 

Bimini, The Bahamas ⏤ On April 22, 2017, local dive shop, Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center, in collaboration with Resolve Marine, Key Construction and Shannon Bullard and The Rock Shed Crew, sunk the 165 ft long J.P. Kipp Barge just miles off North Bimini. Within the following week, a 90 ft long Tug Manatee, a 70 ft long Landing Craft, dubbed “The Lady in Red” and a 30 ft Cuban Refugee Boat, were also sunk in the same area. All at a depth of 85 ft and within swimming distance, the 4 boats make up what is now called “The Coach Sugar Memorial Dive Site” — named after Bimini’s beloved chief youth mentor, Grathen “Sugar” Robins.

The Coach Sugar Memorial Dive Site is expected to have a booming impact on Bimini dive tourism. Once marine life begins to colonize, the wreck site will become home to a variety of reef fish, marine corals and various pelagic species.

“These artificial reefs provide a great sanctuary for undersea critters, help establish coral growth and recruitment, as well as being an awesome playground for scuba divers and water enthusiasts!” comments Duncan Brake, underwater cameraman and former Bimini Biological Field Station Manager.

The vessels — donated by Resolve Marine, Key Construction and Shannon Bullard and The Rock Shed Crew — are a welcomed addition to Bimini’s wreck dive options. Like the S.S. Sapona and Bimini Barge, the new boats come with their own colorful histories. Starting with the Tug Manatee, built in 1944, this craft was instrumental in the construction of Nassau’s mega resort Atlantis. Next, the Cuban Refugee Boat that ran ashore on Cat Cay in 2015 with 19 Cuban refugees on board — yes, 19! The passengers were said to have been found celebrating on the golf course thinking they had arrived in Miami. They were all sent back to Cuba.

Between the 4 companies — Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center, Resolve Marine, Key Construction and Shannon Bullard and The Rock Shed Crew — an estimated one-half million dollars was donated in terms of cleaning crews, dive crews, dive equipment, monies and physical vessels. The sinking of these four ships was an incredible community effort and will no doubt benefit the entire Bimini — from divers to fishermen to hospitality establishments.

Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center, located at the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina, currently offers trips to the new dive site on an on-demand basis. Dive trips can be booked a la carte or as part of a Dive + Hotel Package. For more information about our dive rates and/or package information, please visit www.biminiscubacenter.com or call 800-867-4764.

 

About Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center

Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center operates 3 dive boats including a 60-foot glass bottom boat well-suited to accommodate divers, snorkelers and sightseers alike. In addition to reefs, wrecks and wall diving, Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center offers Great Hammerhead Shark, Wild Dolphin, Reef Shark and Sting Ray Safaris. PADI certifications and courses are also available. For more information, please visit www.biminiscubacenter.com

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