L.A. Co. U/W Instructors Association Announces Plans for 50th Reunion
The Los Angeles County Underwater Instructors Association has announced that its 50th reunion will take place in November of 2004. In 1954, the L.A. Co. Department of Parks and Recreation became the first agency in this country to train scuba instructors and to provide recreational scuba instruction to the public. The L.A. County Underwater Instructors Association continues to offer quality scuba education to Southern California divers.

All Los Angeles County Scuba instructors, past and present, and anyone else interested, are urged to contact the event organizers. Interested parties can receive more information by visiting www.lascuba.com online. You can also visit their booth at SCUBA Show 2004, May 22-23 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

DAN’s Dan Orr Named Chairman of Historical Diving Society
Dan Orr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and currently Acting President at Divers Alert Network (DAN), has been elected chairman of the Historical Diving Society USA. He replaces Lee Selisky.

Orr’s term is for three years, with possible renomination for a second three-year term. Bob Hollis, founder and CEO of Oceanic Worldwide, takes over the presidency of the Society, a job previously held by Orr since 2003.

“Everyone associated with the HDS is thrilled to have Dan accept the position of chairman,” said Society Co-Founder and Executive Director Leslie Leaney. “Dan’s knowledge of non-profit operations and his professional relationships with industry leaders will enhance the credibility of the Society and increase the awareness of the importance of diving history internationally.”

Orr said he was honored to be selected. “The foundations of what we now enjoy in recreational diving is a direct result of the creative thinking and ingenuity of our diving predecessors,” he said. “Every dive we make is a celebration of that history.

Formed in 1992, the non-profit Historical Diving Society USA has grown to be the largest diving history organization in the world. It has members in 37 countries and is affiliated with similar groups around the globe.

The Historical Diving Society USA publishes the award-winning magazine Historical Diver, which is also the official publication of the Societies in Russia, Canada, Germany, Mexico, France and South-East Asia Pacific. The Society’s booth is a fixture at every major American recreational and commercial diving show, and the Society holds an annual conference on international diving history.

Society Advisory Board members include Professor Dr. Hans Hass, Sylvia Earle, Dr. Christian Lambertsen, Scott Carpenter, Sir John Rawlins, Dr. George Bass, Henri Delauze and other accomplished diving professionals.

Membership is made up from diving industry professionals, engineers, librarians, researchers, curators, collectors, medical doctors, authors, military, recreational, technical and commercial divers, and is open to anyone with an interest in diving history. The Historical Diving Society USA based in Santa Barbara, CA. For more information, visit www.diversalertnetwork.org online.
— from Divenewswire.com

Wind Dancer

Dancer Fleet Vessels Receive Upgrades
Peter Hughes Diving, Inc. is pleased to announce the recent beautification of M/V Wind Dancer and M/V Sky Dancer.

M/V Wind Dancer is now sporting new carpet, resurfaced Lido deck and swim platform, freshly painted and resurfaced bow area, new mattresses, and a new microwave in the freshly painted galley. Other, less noticeable, improvements include a new 500 pound plow anchor; new equipment (i.e. satellite phone, GPS and engine gauges); new air and nitrox piping manifolds and gauges; new and re-built Bauer K-15 compressors; new 75 Kw generators; and a new state-of-the-art Coast Guard approved sewage treatment plant. Whale watching tenders were also reconditioned, as all diving in Tobago will be conducted from these tenders. M/V Wind Dancer moved recently to serve Tobago.

Sky Dancer

Guests aboard M/V Sky Dancer in the Galapagos Islands will find refurbished baths, a newly carpeted sundeck, two new slide viewing tables, new fabrics in the salon and dining room, refurbished rugs and mattresses, freshly painted ceilings, and newly varnished floors and furniture. General maintenance was also performed on the two main engines, generators, compressors, and AC.

Peter Hughes Diving, Inc. represents luxury live-aboards in some of the world’s most exotic diving destinations. For information or reservations contact your dive travel planner or Peter Hughes Diving at 1-800-0-DANCER or on the internet at www.peterhughes.com. You can also visit their booth at SCUBA Show 2004, May 22-23 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Kids Sea Camp to Grand Cayman
The popular Kids Sea Camp program has expanded. Dive Tech at Cobalt Coast on Grand Cayman will host Kids Sea Camp. For several years Kids Sea Camp was held in Curacao. This year, for the first time, young people wanting a fun and exciting aquatic vacation adventure can also participate in Kids Sea Camp Grand Cayman.

According to Nancy Easterbrook of Dive Tech, “We are making a strong commitment to this event. We have cleared our reservations schedule for the entire two weeks of Sea Camp so that 50 participants each week will have the undivided and complete attention of our staff of Dive Tech professionals.”

The Kids Sea Camp program includes a wide range of activities, including daily boat trips, an excursion to Stingray City, a private tour of the Famous Cayman Turtle Farm, a night dive, PADI Seal Team missions, SASY demonstrations, and many other activities specifically designed for younger guests and their parents.

For a complete list of activities and more information about Kids Sea Camp Cayman, visit www.divetech.com or www.cobaltcoast.com online or call (345) 946-5658.
— from Divenewswire.com