 Dive Against Debris Photo Album! In terms of weather, we had almost everything but snow, and still we had a great time! Divers collected about 53 pounds of debris (the electronic scale was forgotten in the rain (yep, my own fault), and it stopped working, but we were near the end of weighing and counting, so we think we have it about right. This is what I love best about scuba divers: They are very environmentally conscious. Every where you dive, you can hear the scuba diver's mantra: "Take only pictures, leave only bubbles." But they take more than just pictures when they dive. Scuba divers are known to fill their pockets with trash they find along the way. Because they are just THAT awesome!  Some of the trash the divers pulled from the lake! Thank-you to the many divers who came out to collect the trash! Working with Project Aware was a very satisfying venture. We tracked the debris we collected and are preparing a data card report that the foundation will use with the research they continue to collect. Our Stats: Weight of Debris collected: 53 lbs Strangest item: paint can, anchor, and fireworks. About Project Aware Project AWARE Foundation is a growing movement of scuba divers protecting the ocean planet – one dive at a time.Over the past two decades of underwater conservation we’ve learned that divers are true leaders in ocean protection. We’re ocean heroes numbering in the millions across the globe. We believe together our actions will make a huge impact and will help to rescue the ocean. With new programs and more online resources than ever before, Project AWARE supports an unprecedented global movement of divers acting in their own communities to protect oceans and fresh water lakes and rivers to implement lasting change. Project Aware is focusing in on two major ocean issues – Sharks in Peril and Marine Debris, or trash in our ocean. Truly, there are many conservation issues converging on our ocean planet at once, but we’re concentrating on these serious problems where scuba divers are uniquely positioned to directly and positively affect real, long-term change in these two areas.  ASN Diver The boat was christened ASN Diver today! I didn't quite get the money shot here, but hey. It was quite a day! Unfortunately the cloth bag also ripped and a chunk of glass fell into the water. Jeff kindly volunteered to be hung upside down by the ankles to retrieve it. Pictures in our photo album (Flickr and Facebook) We did finally get burgers and dogs. Thank-you Rachel for being a great BBQ Queen! And thank-you George and his cooking students at Sutton District High school for making us custard berry tarts and chocolate brownie bites. They were very good!
We are so pooped. Thank-you again everyone. Smile
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 DIVE AGAINST DEBRIS Scuba Kick-off day When: Saturday May 30, 2015 10:30 am Where: Bonnie Boat's, Jackson's Point Why: Scuba divers are naturally concerned about the health of our environment on land, and especially under the waves. We know our fragile underwater world is in peril; pollution, over-fishing, and loss of precious marine species in danger of becoming extinct all contribute to the degradation of this eco-system that provides us with sustenance and life. Plain and simple: when the oceans die, WE die.  It's finally here! Time to pick-up your mesh bag, check your gear and have it serviced if it's due, fill up your tanks, grab your buddy and head out to our annual scuba Eco Kick-off day! This year we have registered our event with a Foundation called Project Aware, a growing movement of scuba divers protecting the ocean planet – one dive at a time. This means that we will bring a "Dive Against Debris" Data card with us, and we will document the trash that we find at this location and submit the results to Project Aware. They will then plot and map the results of our scuba diving clean-up efforts, as they do with clean-up efforts all over the world. We will report things like: - any entangled animals that we encounter on our dive - the most unusual item of debris found on our dive - any items of concern for this marine location (pollution, specific types of debris, etc. Be part of this movement, you do not want to miss out! Learn more about Project Aware and sign up for our "DIVE AGAINST DEBRIS" here: http://www.projectaware.org/node/38321/signup AND, if you are interested in being a Project Aware Surveyor, there is a survey guide you can download here: http://www.projectaware.org/resource/dive-against-debris-survey-kit
 Don't forget that after our efforts to clean up the lake, we will be hosting a BBQ! Jody is charge of the BBQ again this year, and Jill will bring some sweets to replenish those calories burned underwater. Hey, just because we are doing good things for Mother-Earth doesn't mean that we can't have fun and fill our bellies at the same time! Please come out for some fun and help us to do our small part in making our marine environment healthier while keeping it beautiful! See you soon! In Other News: We've decided to name the boat the ASN Diver.
We hope soon to begin her maiden scuba voyage with a test charter exclusively for our PADI Pros - Our instructors and divemasters will test her out and begin her career with Adventure Sports Newmarket Inc. this spring! Then she will begin her work in earnest.  We know that some folks are superstitious about re-naming a boat, but we have done some research, and happily discovered that there is a procedure. Namely, appease the water god, Neptune. No problem, big guy, we are happy to oblige.
A Wee bit O' Christening History The Babylonians christened their boats by sacrificing oxen in 300 BC. The Vikings are reputed to have made human sacrifices to christen a boat (Yikes! No Jody, we are NOT Viking). The Greeks, more peaceably, wore wreaths of olive branches and poured water over their boats, then toasted the sea god Poseidon with red wine (representing sacrificial blood). In the late 1700's the British began the bottle breaking tradition to replace the pouring of water over the boat from a precious metal "standing cup", followed by tossing the cup into the water. Using champagne in the bottles began in the 1800's, but not exclusively. The U.S. Navy used water from important rivers instead of the bubbly to launch their warships. Eventually, it became tradition to have a woman christen the boat, saying the words "I christen thee______________" while breaking the bottle over the hull, but she needed a strong arm, because if the bottle didn't break, it was considered bad luck. There are tales to this day that reinforce this superstition. One of the most notable involved a bottle that didn't break when Prince Charles' wife, Camilla, christened the new ocean liner Queen Victoria. Its maiden voyage was spoiled by the outbreak of a shipside virus. Still, this was a better outcome than the Titanic, which was simply slid into the water without a formal naming ceremony. And we all know how that turned out. Renaming a boat is another matter entirely. While some people will swear that renaming your boat will bring it nothing but bad luck, this is not the case. The first step in changing a boat name (after carefully picking a new name, as you don't want to go through this procedure more than once) is to remove all traces of the previous boat name. Everything must go: key chains, custom coolers, matching family T-shirts...and don't forget the documentation, maintenance logs, etc. In the case of paperwork, there are two options a) toss it entirely and get new log books or b) keep the vital records but cross out all references to the old boat name. Pour the champagne overboard to appease Neptune while splashing some on the boat hull. An alternative is to smash a bottle of champagne on the boat hull, so Neptune and the boat both get their appropriate portions. We are NOT going to smash any bottles, as we are scuba divers, and do not wish to pollute our waters with any glass debris. We will pour the champagne over the hull and into the water (and we'll save the good stuff for us). So there you have it. ASN Diver. Charters to be announced very soon. Thank-you for your patience. At the end of this blog, our courses, events, and trips will be listed for easy viewing. They will also be added to our Facebook Events, and our website calendar. Coming up at Adventure Sports Newmarket: May 19 - PADI Emergency First Response May 30 - Eco Dive and Kick-off weekend June 4, 6, 7 - PADI Rescue Dive Course June 9, - Club Meeting June 13, 14 - PADI Open Water Course June 16 - PADI Enriched Air Course June 17 - PADI Advanced Open Water Course July 4, 5 - PADI Open Water Course July 7 - Club Meeting July 9 - PADI Enriched Air Course July 11, 12 - Tobermory Dive Trip (weekend) July 18, 19 - PADI Open Water Course August 8, 9 - PADI Open Water Course August 11 - Club Meeting Sept 5,6 - Brockville end of season SCUBA Extravaganza Nov 7-13 - Blackbeard's Scuba Adventure (Bahamas) Nov 14-21 - Aqua Cat Luxury Scuba Cruise (Bahamas) Nov 28 - ASN Scuba Christmas Dinner Party & Photo Slide Show (with Prizes) Call: 905- 898-5338 Email: [email protected] 
Get the most out of SCUBA!
We divers all agree that scuba diving is an amazing experience. I feel very lucky to be a part the adventure that takes me underwater with my camera sometimes. The meditative benefits of this sport are immeasurable; there's nothing like it. Achieving your certification is just the first part of the scuba journey. Get the most out of your scuba diving experiences by joining Adventure Sports Newmarket Dive Club: THE TANK JOCKEYS. 5 Reasons why the Tank Jockeys are a SPECTACULAR & AWESOME CLUB! 
1.
Making friends. You will cultivate lasting friendships with a diverse group of interesting people that share your love of the water - beneath the waves. This is a very social sport, and we count on each other to learn from and share the joy of everything we get to see and do underwater! You cannot get out of this experience without making 100 new friends. You must come see for yourself! :) 
2.
Dive more often. You get a chance to hone your skills by diving frequently through spring and summer. ASN divers dive every Wednesday through the dive season (locations may vary, but it's after work for a lot of folks, so we can't wander too far). We do weekend excursions to Tobermory, Brockville, and other wreck dives - Ontario has lots to dive! We host Scuba kick-off day at the end of May with an eco-cleanup dive and BBQ, and end the season with a pumpkin carving (underwater) dive in late October. SUPER FUN! And...we have acquired a dive boat, divers! We are anxious to set out a schedule for this season, but first thing's first - she needs inspection, maintenance, and custom outfitting, and WE are busy getting all the training we need to operate safely...STAY TUNED! Winter trips include Blackbeards, Aquacat, Florida Keys, and we may be adding new exotic locales. Frequent diving will make you a more competent (and safe) diver! 
3.
Our dive club members get free air for one tank throughout the year, a visual tank inspection, and well, many other discounts and benefits (discounted boat charters soon to be added to that list)! Click to see list.
4.
Meetings and story swapping. Anybody who has dived for any length of time has a story to tell (mine is the great Ramora attack of 2014, lol, oh, and the shark diving in the Bahamas....oh so many!), and we all learn from each other. Your fellow dive members all have opinions and advice that they can't wait to share with you; add your voice to the melee! 
5.
Spontaneous diving made easy. Last minute dive plans! Post your need for a buddy in the group, and there's a good chance someone will respond to your call-to-action (likely several someone's). So make that leap and join the gang! Meetings are every second Tuesday evening of every month. Locations always posted on our calendar and facebook events. We can't wait to welcome you. I can't think of our diving experience being any other way. Divers are like family, and they seem to be such happy (narced?) people!
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 AuthorsJill Smith 
Coral Restoration
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