#scubaboard

[volivolibeachfiji]

ScubaBoard Invasion - Fiji 2019 Resort Review and Video

ScubaBoard Invasion – Fiji 2019 Resort Review and Video

Volivoli Beach Resort was absolutely amazing

The views, grounds, and rooms were stunningly gorgeous! Nick, Steve, Simon and the entire Staff also did an outstanding job of taking care of our large group during the ScubaBoard Invasion 2019.

Ra Divers were on site for our diving and snorkeling

All we can say is what a pleasure with attention to detail from start to finish. The dive sites were…

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[ephemeral-aeroliths]

Had an amazing time camping and diving at Ginnie Springs. The Galaxy dive will definitely be one I won't soon forget ✨ also shoutout to @cristibugg for some of the pics! #Scuba #ScubaBoard #Outdoors #Camping #GalaxyDive (at Ginnie Springs)

[djldiving]

Davy Jones Locker, Koh Tao are offering CCR rebreather training, leading to ANDI certification, in May we will then be running a series of IANTD...

Check out our profile on Scubaboard and see what information we are posting on the forum about  training and courses at DJL 

[divewithelena]

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.

[divewithelena]

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.

divewithelena.com

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