News from the Surface

Dan's Diving Emergency Management Program

2012-01-21T07:56:00.001-05:00

With introduction to hyperbaric medicine

Four courses being taught by the staff at The University of Pennsylvania Hyperbaric Department.
Four course include oxygen for scuba diving injuries, advanced oxygen for scuba diving injuries, first aid for hazardous marine life, and AED for scuba diving injuries.
Taught over 2 four hour days, January 28-29, 2012.
Also included will be an introduction to hyperbarics to include a tour of the chamber facility
Also available will be DAN’s Neurology Course.
For course registration or information contact Teresa Johnston at drkritters@comcast.net or (267) 325-1224.

Updated year - Updated Travel Schedule!

2012-01-07T07:03:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year! If your new year's resolution is to dive more, we can help. And if you're dreaming of white sand instead of white snow, plan now to join us for some great dive trips to warm, sunny places. This year's schedule includes some old favorites as well as few new places - we're sure there is a trip for you on the schedule! Space is limited so please contact us to reserve your spot.

Here are our trips. Click on the links for details!

Florida Keys - Feb 9-13
Roatan, Honduras - March 17-24
Dominica - June 23-30
North Carolina "Graveyard of the Atlantic" - July 12-16
Turks & Caicos on the liveabord T&C Caribbean Explorer II - Sept 29-Oct 6
Cayman Brac - Nov 24-Dec 1

We hope to see you underwater soon!

Season's Greetings! plus, Holiday Store Hours

2011-12-21T16:09:00.004-05:00

From all of us at Aqua Hut, best wishes for sunny skies, warm tropical water and a very happy, healthy holiday season! Even though the long, dark winter months are still ahead of us, December 21 is the shortest day of the year. Each day following Winter Solstice is longer & filled with more sunlight until Spring finally arrives.

Please note our holiday hours, now through Jan. 1:

Mon-Fri 12-7pm
Sat 10-5
Sun 12-5
Sat., Dec. 24 12-4
Dec. 25 Closed
Dec. 26 Closed
Sat., Dec. 31 12-4
Jan. 1 Closed

Winter Doggy Donation Drive

2011-11-20T15:00:00.003-05:00

We have started a donation drive for no-kill animal shelters and we would love your support. Aqua Hut is going to be our home base where you can drop off donations, and we will be collecting items until end of January 2012. We are specifically collecting dog items such as:

stuffed animals & doggy toys
leashes & collars
towels & paper towels
dog beds
carriers & crates
shampoo & brushes
Frontline
dog food & doggy treats

Even second-hand stuff would be great. No kill shelters struggle from day to day and also need office supplies, pens, paper clips, staplers, bleach, cleaning items, etc. A no-kill shelter that will receive our donations is Francisvale, a no-kill shelter in Wayne. For more information on donations you can go to http://www.francisvalehome.org/.

Getting Certified, Part II

2011-10-29T10:19:00.009-04:00

If you read Part I, then you know that I recently got my PADI Open Water Certification. I just returned from a vacation in St. Lucia where I did my first real ocean dives and it was a great experience.

We stayed at an all-inclusive where the diving was also included. When we arrived at the resort, we checked in with the onsite dive shop – we provided our certification cards, filled out the forms, and signed up for dives. It was nice to be able to provide my official card representing my accomplishment.

The staff recommended an easy, 1-tank orientation dive the next day which I did. It was a great way to transition from Dutch Springs to the ocean. :) Amazingly, I saw a big beautiful moray eel on the first dive – out in the open and not peeking out of a hole!

We did 7 other dives on our trip and saw other wonderful things, including a baby octopus, starfish, rays, and countless beautiful fish.

Despite the less than scenic dive conditions in Pennsylvania, I was very glad I did my certification here at home rather than during my vacation. My instructors knew my needs as a student and it saved time and stress while on holiday. My thanks again to the folks at Aquahut for the great training. I was able to relax on my vacation and not worry about the normal stresses that come with a new activity. I’m looking forward to my next diving adventure!

Getting Certified

2011-08-20T13:06:00.003-04:00

Hello, Jeff here. Have you been thinking about getting certified in SCUBA? Did you know that the class and pool work can be completed in one weekend? My Lori just got her PADI Open Water Certification and we thought we’d share her experience. Maybe it will inspire you to take the plunge.

Jeff had been a diver for a long time and after hearing him talk about it I was always a bit intrigued. We had gone to Jamaica a couple years ago and he went on some dives while I did other things. Seeing him have such a fun relaxing time made me more curious about SCUBA. Then Jeff did his Advanced PADI certification at Dutch Springs last year and when I was there I was impressed by the wide range of divers – young, old, men, women, kids, experienced, and beginners. Maybe this was something I could do also?

I decided to do it. I got the PADI text book, studied hard and got prepared for class. Friday night was class work, and I got through that fine. Saturday was a mixed bag for me as I had some trouble equalizing my ears. But Rich is a wonderful instructor and provided the encouragement and empathy that I needed.

On Rich’s suggestion, Jeff and I went back to the pool on 2 additional Saturdays to practice equalizing and other skills and that was a big help. Rich then felt I was ready to do the check-out dives and so did I. Initially, we were thinking that we would do the check out dives in the Caribbean on a trip, but it just made more sense to go to Dutch Springs as Rich was aware of my particular needs as a student.

It was time to do my check out dives. We picked up our equipment on a Thursday and went up to Dutch Springs early Saturday morning. The weather at Dutch Springs was perfect and the water was warm in the upper 70's. We unpacked our gear with the rest of class and Rich provided an orientation of the facility.

We did three dives on Saturday, Underwater visibility was about 15 feet (good for Dutch Springs). The dives were at a comfortable pace that allowed us to think about what we were doing. Diving was followed by hamburgers, hot dogs and snacks. As tired as we were, I think we were energized by success of the day and actually made it out to Musikfest in downtown Bethlehem that evening.

After a good night’s sleep we were ready to do it again. Sunday was an overcast day but we got our final check-out dive in before the rain started. Due to the rain we skipped the grilling and we all went to a local diner to eat and fill in our log books. The people at Aqua Hut were just great. Rich, Sol, Beth, Tom, and Carla all made me feel safe and comfortable and had all kinds of great tips.

And so now I’m a certified SCUBA diver! I overcame my natural fears and I feel confident with the solid training that I received from Aqua Hut, and I’m excited about exploring life below the surface.

Happy 4th of July!

2011-06-30T16:08:00.001-04:00

Just a note that the store will be closed 4th of July weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday) to spend time with friends and family. We'll reopen on Tuesday July 5th. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Our Dutch Springs 2011 Dates

2011-06-15T19:00:00.001-04:00

We've added Dutch Springs dates to our calendar. Dutch Springs is a 50-acre lake in Bethlehem, PA with attractions at depths up to 100 feet. It is spring-fed from an underground aquifer that filters through limestone to provide excellent visibility. This year we will be at Dutch Springs on several weekends noted below:

June 25 & 26
July 30 & 31 REVISED
August 13 & 14
September 10 & 11
September 24 & 25

These are Saturday/Sunday dates.

There are also additional Dutch Springs training days hosted by Mid-Atlantic Scuba Center:

June 11 & 12
July 9 & 10
August 27 & 28

Open water dives generally begin at 8am on Saturday. Please allow yourself time to stand in line before entering. We recommend arriving around 7:30am. Please see Dutch Springs' website for more information.

Fins AND Feathers

2011-05-29T17:56:00.010-04:00

Hello, Jeff here. If you're from this area you know that the Delaware valley is home to many interesting bird species and has some great birding locales from Hawk Mountain to Cape May to Cape Henlopen.

And if you're interested in Scuba diving AND birds (like me), then you know that when you travel there are many wondrous creatures ABOVE the water as well as below. The Caribbean has so many amazing bird species and checking them out can add yet another dimension to your getaway.

There are several great Caribbean bird books that you can pack away with your scuba gear, including Birds of the West Indies by James Bond, a copy of which I picked up at yard sale last year. (Did you know that Ian Fleming got the name of his famous character from the author of that book? James Bond, the ornithologist, worked at the Academy of Natural Sciences here in Philly, and became curator of birds there). There are many online bird resources as well. My favorite bird website is allaboutbirds.org, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Before your next trip, take a minute to research the native birds of your destination and you just might spot it while your sipping that Red Stripe on the dock.

Our Updated Website

2011-05-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

Dear friends,

We've made some exciting changes to our website to better serve you. It's now easier to keep in touch through our blog and our up-to-date trip & class calendar. You can also browse through our stunning photos and explore dive destinations on our Google Caribbean map.

You can also connect with us on Facebook. And if you're not on our mailing list, be sure to sign up on our home page. We always welcome your comments and questions -- just call or email us.

Happy diving,
The Aqua Hut Team

Happy Earth Day from Aqua Hut

2011-04-22T10:41:00.006-04:00

As divers, we feel a special connection to the planet. We see the earth from a unique perspective that everyone should see. It's important to stay involved in conservation the whole year round and to be aware of ocean initiatives on our own shores and around the world.

A great way for divers to stay in touch is through Project AWARE. The Project AWARE Foundation conserves underwater environments through education, advocacy, and action. The foundation works in partnership with divers and water enthusiast to combat challenges facing underwater environments.

Check out Project AWARE's website and this Earth Day think about how you can stay involved in creating a healthier planet.

Back to Baja on the SolmarV Liveaboard! - June 11-18

2011-03-15T19:46:00.001-04:00

We were on the SolmarV back in the 90s and enjoyed the variety of unusual sea life, not found on most of our Caribbean trips. Our itinerary will take us up into the Sea of Cortez, where we can dive and snorkel with sea lions, snorkel with whale sharks (if we're lucky) and enjoy kayaking and land excursions on the uninhabited islands in the Sea of Cortez. Because of the many opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking and land excursions, this trip would be suitable for those traveling with non-diving partners. 16 spots available (8 standard cabins/ 8 superior).

Includes 5 days of diving, 3 meals daily, between dive snacks, beverages including soft drinks, beer, and wine with dinner (any other alcoholic drinks are extra), tanks, weights and weight belts. Not included: $15 chamber fee, airport transfers ($15 one way)

Note: You must arrive in Cabo San Lucas (airport code: SJD) by 1pm on June 11. It is best to arrive the day before - We can make hotel reservations for you.

Standard, double occ: $1795 & 11% tax
Superior, double occ: $1895 & 11% tax.
Please ask for single rates.
$500 deposit due at sign-up.

Click here for more information

Start Packing! Our 2011 Travel Schedule is Here!

2011-03-01T14:00:00.003-05:00

If all this winter weather has you dreaming of white sand instead of white snow, plan now to join us for some great dive trips to warm, sunny places! This year's schedule includes some old favorites as well as few new destinations- we're sure there is a trip for YOU on the schedule! Space is limited so please contact us to reserve your spot.

We started things off in March in Dominica, our favorite Caribbean dive destination. June 11-18, we'll be going Back to Baja on the SolmarV Liveaboard! June 11-18. Our itinerary will take us up into the Sea of Cortez, where we can dive and snorkel with sea lions, snorkel with whale sharks (if we’re lucky) and enjoy kayaking and land excursions on the uninhabited islands in the Sea of Cortez.

Then in July (16-23), we'll be going to Cozumel.August 4-8 we'll be diving over a long weekend in North Carolina.

September 10-17 we'll dive Saba and St. Kitts on the Caribbean Explorer ll

...and we'll go to Grand Cayman October 15-22.

Stay in touch with us via our website, Facebook, and our calendar.