Dive With Elena

Start Your Dive Adventure Here! Welcome to Key Largo, Florida…the Dive Capitol of the World! Private Dive Instruction, Dive Guide, and dive adventure planning

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New Post has been published on http://divewithelena.com/while-we-are-away/

While we are away

Thank you for your interest in Dive with Elena, LLC.

Elena is on temporary family leave and hopes to return soon.

For information on diving and dive education in Key Largo, FL, please visit Rainbow Reef Dive Center.

  For dive training with Pete “Netdoc” Murray, please contact him directly at:

[email protected] or [phone].

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New Post has been published on http://divewithelena.com/another-happy-student/

Another happy student

Diving with Elena (and Pete) review

I would just like to comment on my recent training down in the Keys. Several months ago I received my PADI Open Water training by an extremely competent and experienced local agency, Coral Reef Dive Shop in Slidell, LA (Thanks Rick!). I was told that it would be more than beneficial to progress to the Advanced Open Water training as it was not really the second stage of overall dive training but more realistically the 2nd half of the Open Water training certification itself. Having experienced my initial dives at several sites in Panama City, FL (which was awesome), I was more than anxious to head south to try out my new skills in the Dive capital of the world, Key Largo. I knew I would need a guide and decided it would be to my advantage to not only explore one of the most beautiful places in the world but to continue my training at the same time. I initially signed up with a very reputable retail PADI dive shop who was very responsive with sending me the necessary study materials. However, I was very leery about the attention I would receive with the bigger shops as they have a tendency to shuffle not only their customers through their programs, but the sheer size requires them to shuffle around their trainers so prior communications with the trainer you would get to attempt to get more acquainted prior to arrival was near impossible.In the days leading up to my trip, I decided to research the area a little more carefully. My current local instructor, Rick Sutton, is a highly skilled Technical Diver who’s insight extends over and above the standard cert info and is above reproach. This led me to the discovery of Diving with Elena. To divert for a moment,on one hand you hare large commercial retail dive shops that are one stop everything you need for your dive vacation. they follow a strict script and ensure that you get exactly what you expect. Then you have the specialists. These are the shops who show you what you need to not only receive your cert,, but how to succeed, exceed, survive, give you the tools to advance, and the understanding of what it is you are trying to accomplish.

At Diving with Elena, Elena and Pete exceeded my expectations beyond measure. Not only was their training the type of information I will process for a long time to come, but they were able to work with me and my schedule in a way that I don’t believe the larger agencies would be able to accommodate.I had multiple conversations with them prior to my arrival to ensure we were on the same page and comfortable with expectations throughout the entire training session. I have been fortunate to find such invaluable trainers with a background in technical diving. Where some trainers will show you the 1,2,3,4 step dance, they will make sure you understand and are comfortable with step 1 before progressing to step 2. and might even through in a step 1.5 just for added insight.

just an FYI, The Advanced cert. I am pursuing is NASE as I find there methods more in line with my mode of thinking. Not that there is anything wrong with the others, i.e. PADI, but I find NASE’s history in commercial technical training more in line with the mindset of safety that I appreciate. Recreational or Commercial, safety is and should be job one.

For anyone interested in venturing into this incredible world of diving but have any reservations, let this group take you for a day in Pennekamp Park, introduce you to a couple of lobster dens, and before you know it you will be following them to wrecks and depths you would not have imagined possible.

dpmorrisjr 

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New Post has been published on http://divewithelena.com/diveinstructor/

Teach

TEACHING NEUTRAL STYLE Key Largo’s only Liveaboard Dive Instructor Training Program

Download (PDF, 82KB)

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New Post has been published on http://divewithelena.com/diveinstructor/

Teach

TEACHING NEUTRAL STYLE Key Largo’s only Liveaboard Dive Instructor Training Program

Download (PDF, 82KB)

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New Post has been published on http://divewithelena.com/sad-day-scubaboard-community/

A Sad Day for the ScubaBoard Community

This morning, I like many other ScubaBoarders awoke to the sad news that one of our own had died while diving. While these incidents do happen from time to time, we were all stunned that is was Marcia Fisk Ong, known as Quero. I’ve spent the day dumbfounded reflecting on this lovely lady’s impact on ScubaBoard, the dive community, and to me. Quero in Portugese means: “like, want; will, desire; love”, and she loved life. Quero, a trusted Advisor, was a mentor to Scubaboard staff as well as anyone who needed well-worded advice and friendly encouragement. Always in the best interests of the ScubaBoard community, the everpresent Marcia brought joi de vie and a sense of fairness and a voice of reason to managing an online community. Above all, Marcia always kept her sense of professionalism.

Overtime I came to admire Marcia and came to think of her as a friend. I was honored to host her in my home during her visit to the Keys a few months ago. Pete and I truly enjoyed her visit and the opportunity to dive with her. A passionate diver who loved not only teaching but learning as well, she completed her cave diving and side-mount training during her Florida visit. It was fun to listen to her stories of all the exciting places she had lived and dove. She was a published professional educator before bringing those skills to her dive career. As I read the comments being made by our community, Marcia was a friend to so many, beloved for her sage advice and friendly and lady-like demeanor. Marcia touched many people through electronic magic and in person.

Marcia spent her last days visiting with another ScubaBoarder in Australia. Sadly, her dive buddies found her unresponsive during the dive and brought her back to shore, where attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. This vibrant, seemingly healthy, physically fit lady was a very experienced well-trained diver. We are all “gobsmacked” that if this could happen to her, it can happen to me. Suffice it to say that the Marcia’s last moments were spent doing what she loved – scuba diving.

My condolences and those of so many others go out to her husband, family, friends, and everyone she touched. The dive community lost one of our brightest stars and a friend to many. Marcia, your legacy will continue to shine brightly through the divers you trained, through the written words you’ve left for us and through your children and grandchildren. The world needs more Quero. You’ve left some big fins to fill. I will miss you. Dive on Marcia!

Marcia enjoying her Key Largo Waffle at DJs Diner.

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An Inside Tour of PADI Americas Regional Headquarters

While attending the PADI TecXplor Day at PADI headquarters, ScubaBoard was invited by Drew Richardson, President, to tour the PADI facility and its inner workings. Adrianne Miller, who was helping with the TecXplor Day, arranged for Janelle Hamm and Theresa Kaplan to come downstairs to show us around.

The tour started in the Founders Room dedicated to John Cronin and Ralph Erickson who conceived PADI over a bottle of Bushmills in 1966. That bottle sits proudly in a display case. Thus the Founders Room has a well appointed bar. This area is used for receptions and celebrations. NetDoc and I were invited back here at the end of the day with the exhibitors from the TecXplor day for a happy hour.

From there we were toured through the various offices and arrived at the “Think Tank” where the marketing department kicks back in beanbags to brainstorm. We were introduced to some of the friendly voices in customer service like Penny Saddington and Megan Denny, who handle all the various calls regarding orders and certification cards.  A tour of the "Certification Room" where the C-cards are issued was impressive. Approximately 3000+ cards are printed and prepared for mailing world wide daily. PIC cards submitted electronically make up70%, while the remaining 30% are still paper PIC cards. The paper PICs received in the mail must be scanned into the system. A small percentage of these still get manually entered. This decrease in paper earned PADI a WRAP award for reducing their environmental footprint.  All professional level cards are manually processed. Cards for every PADI office except Japan are printed here at PADI Americas, then bulk shipped to the appropriate regional office for local mailing. We got to ogle at the Wall of Fame where duplicate cards of some celebrities are posted… Yes, Homer Simpson is a diver (or is that D' oh-ver?) who is in the company of Sting, Penelope Cruz, Garth Brooks, and more.

Certification records have been electronically kept since 1982. Records pre-1982 are still kept on microfiche. When a records search is done for an old certification, those are then added into the current computer system. Professional records for resorts and dive pros are filed by number in a highly secured area.

The PADI mail room is enormous. PADI is the largest postal customer by far in Orange County according to the USPS. Maybe they should have their own zipcode… 72822-7234 (SCUBA PADI)?

Next to the mail room is PADI’s print shop. Here PADI produces all printed documents and promotional materials, excluding bound text books. Got a special event in your area and need PADI special materials? Contact your PADI representative to see how they can help you. The warehouse is directly in the center of the building. It's two stories high with all of the training materials in most of the languages used by all of the PADI Americas. The folks in shipping are all committed to getting every single order shipped out in the promised time frame, even if it comes in just minutes before closing time for miraculous overnight delivery. So, next time you open a box of PADI materials, thank those folks racing around pulling your order no matter how large or small and ensuring it is correct.

PADI has a film studio, a film editing and production facility, and an audio room. Many of the training videos are filmed on-site in the pool. By the way, the pool has a full dive locker, tanks, and fill station.  We met the webinar guru Roger Josselyn. The PADI Business of Diving Webinar subjects vary and are informative and timely. These are offered every few weeks and are archived for future viewing on the PADI Pros website.  The PADI Travel Network have teamed with Caradonna Travel where this synergy is benefitting members with better negotiated travel rates and more diving locales. This space that used to be filled with PADI Travel consultants now has a display dive shop.

Are you a school teacher? PADI has a complete school curriculum aptly named “Life on the Ocean Planet” that has been approved by many school districts. If you are interested in more information whether you are a PADI member or not, ask a PADI Rep.

The Training Department is always available for consultation on any issue as is the Quality Department which ensures that PADI standards are uniformly met worldwide. PADI corporate culture is fun and keeps their staff engaged with frequent activities like those on this board, ping pong, and pool table in the break room. The facility also includes a full fitness center, gym, and locker rooms. Of course they also get to swim in the lovely Olympic size pool. Year after year, they are voted one of the top ten best companies to work for in Orange County, California.

Most impressive is the longevity of all the helpful and friendly folks at PADI. They truly enjoy their jobs and it shows in their smiles and you can hear it in their voices.  I would like to thank Janelle and Theresa for not only showing us around, but for spending so much time explaining in depth how each area or program at PADI works. Thanks to Adrianne for helping me fill in the names in this article. After seeing them in action, it’s easy to see why PADI is the way the world learns to dive! The one most common quote we heard through out the different conversations with PADI staff members was, JFK’s “A rising tide, lifts all boats.” The competition isn’t other certification agencies or dive destinations or local shops; we are all together competing for a bigger share of the adventure sports market. You can view more photos from our tour here: PADI Americas HQ Tour - - ScubaBoard Gallery PADI TecXplor Day 2012 - - ScubaBoard Gallery

Originally published: 5/25/2012 http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/content/391-inside-tour-padi-americas-regional-headquarters.html

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Delivery Confirmed 51 Year Later! Spateros Reunited with Christ of the Abyss Statue

Delivery Confirmed 51 Year Later! Spateros Reunited with Christ of the Abyss Statue

 Gabe Spateros, 81, was an avid diver since 1956 until macular degeneration impaired his vision. Through the Diveheart Adaptive Scuba programs he was able to scuba dive again. Spateros expressed his desire to dive the Christ of the Abyss Statue in Key Largo.  Spateros, a restaurateur from Chicago, met Egidio Cressi, the Italian Scuba Entrepreneur, during a wine tour in Italy.  Cressi donated this Statue to the Underwater Society of America in 1962.  Spateros volunteered to assist him in bringing the statue to the United States. Spateros coordinated the effort of transporting the statue from Genoa, Italy via Chicago, IL to Key Largo, FL and installed at no cost. Spateros met with John Pennekamp and was one of the instrumental people who helped select the appropriate dive site for the statue to be placed for the world to see.  The Christ of the Abyss statue is a 9-foot tall, 4000 pound bronze statue that has been placed in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The statue sits in 18 feet deep water and is one of the most popular site for snorkelers and divers worldwide.  This underwater statute has become Key Largo's trademark.

Spatero in his early days of diving (circa 1950s).

The Statue arrives in the US (1962). Spatero on the right.

  Here is Gabe Spateros’ interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvOVOi9DgjM

Spateros finally returned to Key Largo 51 years later, to see the now world famous diving landmark. Saturday, May 19, 2013, was a beautiful sunny Key Largo afternoon for Spateros and his support divers from Diveheart to go diving. 

Hello My Old Friend

Delivery Confirmed!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-2yXfGIiUY

  A word of advice for the many who wish to visit the Christ of the Abyss Statue in Key Largo sometimes referred to as “Touchdown Jesus” by local captains: Don’t touch Christ because that warm tingly feeling isn’t a religious experience, it’s fire coral.

Diveheart volunteers included Jim Elliot, founder of Diveheart, Michael Kaufman, Scuba Siren Wilhemina Stanton, Chuck Baldwin, owner of US1 Scuba. Also diving with Mr. Spateros was Eric Douglas, author and Scuba Diving Magazine columnist , John Cole from History of Diving Museum, D.J. Wood owner of Rainbow Reef Dive Center, and from ScubaBoard Peter Murray, Elena Rodriguez and Wyzmar Clealand. Special thanks to Rainbow Reef Dive Center, Captain Dean and the crew of Tropical Voyager, and also to Cressi for supplying the scuba gear for Mr. Spateros’ dive.

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Originally published: 5/24/2013 http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/diveheart/455523-delivery-confirmed-51-year-later.html

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Rescue Training Revisited

Rescue Training Revisited

During my first Florida Lobster mini-season as a divemaster on a dive boat many moons ago, we had three rescues the first day. Oh Boy! Did that open my eyes to the reality of unprepared divers, and to the importance of having a solid foundation of rescue skills. I now live in Key Largo, FL a.k.a. “The Dive Capital of the World” according to the welcome signs.  With so many dive boats and divers, we do have our share of rescues usually ranging from tired divers towed back to the boat against current, unprepared panicked divers on the surface, or a medical issue that necessitates a rescue.

In recent years with the increase in tec-reational and technical diving, I am now seeing more variety of gear configurations on dive boats that cater to all levels, not just those for specialized diving.  These configurations include back-mount, side-mount, and rebreather divers. While most divers trained to dive these configurations are taught self-rescue skills, the Rescue Diver course is geared toward single-tank recreational diving.  This Rescue Diver course is a pre-requisite to become a DiveMaster.  However, the standard Rescue Diver curriculum does not address rescues in these different configurations.  This may not sufficiently prepare DiveMasters to man the deck of a busy dive boat or the everyday Rescue Diver who gets drawn into an emergency situation.

In recent months, PADI America’s Manager of Instructor Development, Alan Jan, has been touring the country inviting local instructors and course directors to participate in a Rescue Training Review.  I attended one of these held last month in Key Largo.  Six participants came from Atlanta, Daytona Beach, Sarasota, and locally.  Alan demonstrated some critical attributes of rescue demonstrations that instructors should be emphasizing to their students.  Skills were demonstrated in single tank back mount configurations with weight belts and with integrated weight systems.  Alan included discussion on how best to deal with side-mount as well as rebreather victims.

Instructors from near and far

Alan Jan explains as he demonstrates.

  All variations of rescues first require establishing buoyancy as soon as possible for the victim and the rescuer.  In a nutshell, during a single tank back-mount (standard recreational) rescue, gear is removed first from the victim, then the Rescuer removes his/her own gear.  In a rebreather, the Rescuer must first close his/her own loop and move the loop behind his/her head to improve access to the victim.  When rescuing a rebreather diver, close the victim’s loop and pull the loop back over the victim’s head and ditch the bailout tanks which might impede Rescuer’s access.  The victim’s gear can be loosened and then pulled from behind the head as one piece (similar to a t-shirt being pulled over the head) for easier removal.  In side-mount, the Rescuer must first drop his/her own side-mount tanks to allow for easier access to the victim.  For a side-mount victim, the victim’s side mount tanks must be removed to enable access for rescue breathing.  Don’t expect these techniques to come easily without in-water practice.

  Next month I will be teaching a Rescue Course that includes a newer diver who immediately adopted recreational side-mount diving after her open-water certification. I am ready to cover these concepts with my students and know the in-water practice will be a learning experience for us both. I hope that in the near future, Rescue Diver Courses across all agencies will be updated to include information about rescues in these configurations in training materials and videos, encouraging divers in all configurations to be prepared for the unexpected.

There is not enough emphasis given to refreshing your Rescue Skills and staying proficient.  Kudos to a South Florida Dive Operator who recently posted this on their Facebook page.

 “ATTN Local Regulars! We are checking our schedule to set aside a time frame to get all or any of you that are interested out on the boat for some Rescue training, CPR update, and training on our new AED system. You guys spend so much time on the boat, it's like you’re all honorary crew...so let’s make an afternoon of it, brush up on your rescue skills, bring any equipment you'd like to test out, and we'll get your first aid and CPR training refreshed!! Stay tuned...let us know if you’re interested and we'll get everything set, and do a BBQ afterwards back at our place...”

What is your local dive shop doing to help you stay current in your skills?

Rescue Diver skills are something you hope to never use like the spare tire in your vehicle, but are grateful to have it and be able to use it when the need arises.

  What are YOU waiting for?

Divers: If you have not taken a Rescue Diver course, what are you waiting for? The life you save may be your own.

Rescue Divers and above: When was the last time you reviewed and practiced your skills to remain proficient? If it has been a while, what are you waiting for?

DiveMasters: Are you familiar and comfortable saving any diver on your boat regardless of the configuration of gear they are diving?  Doffing their gear can present some interesting situations you should be prepared to handle.

Instructors: When teaching Rescue Divers and Divemasters, are you discussing, including, and/or demonstrating some of these differences?

Dive Shops and Operators: Are you hosting periodic Rescue Refreshers for your regulars? It’s a great way to keep your divers diving and safe...and coming back to you.

Agencies: How is your agency keeping current and relevant with changing trends? How are your agency’s training protocols preparing future dive pros to be effective and ready to respond to any emergency?

Originally posted 8/28/13: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/content/659-rescue-training-revisited.html

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Whether you can obtain a job, credit or insurance can be based on your digital doppelgänger — and you may never know why you’ve been turned down.

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I'm here...where are you?