Mar. 9, 2010 - PADI EANx/NITROX CLASS PADI EANx/NITROX CLASS MARCH 9th, 2010 - PADI NITROX CLASS TUESDAY 4/9/09 PADI NITROX CLASS PADI EANX/NITROX CERTIFICATION CLASS STARTS AT 6:30PM AND WRAPS UP AROUND 9-9:30PM. COST IS $130.00 AND INCLUDES CERTIFICATION CARD,BOOK,TABLES, AND LOANER DVD. INCREASE YOUR BOTTOM TIME,IMPROVE YOUR SAFETY FACTOR AND FEEL LESS FATIGUE AFTER DIVING. THE REAL AND BEST BENIFIT IS LESS NITROGEN ABSORBTION DURING DIVE TRIPS MAKING MULTIPLE DIVES FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW. STOP IN TO THE STORE TO SIGN UP AND PICK UP YOUR STUDENT PACKAGE. registration

Mar. 31, 2010 - RESCUE DIVER CLASS W/EFR INCLUDED October 7, 2009 - RESCUE DIVER CLASS W/EFR INCLUDED Instructor: Chris Parker Cost of class is $400.00 w/EFR,AED included Cost without EFR is $300.00 Schedule: 3/31 @ 6:30 PM at Giant Stride for EFR..... Rescue Class room 5/12 @ 6:30 PM at Giant Stride for academics. Rescue Dives 5/15 @ 10:00 AM at Jamestown,for in water rescue dives....& 5/16 @ 10:00 AM at Jamestown,for open water rescue dives. Rescue Diver training will prepare you to prevent problems and, if necessary, manage dive emergencies. During the open water sessions, you'll cover: Self-rescue and diver stress, dive first aid, emergency management and equipment, swimming and non-swimming assists, panicked diver response, underwater problems, missing diver procedures, surfacing the unconscious diver, inwater artificial respiration, egress (exits), first aid procedures for pressure related,, accidents, and dive accident scenarios. Call for more info or stop by the shop to sign up and get your books and DVD. registration

Mar. 31, 2010 - Emergency First Responder /O2 Provider/AED Class March 31 - EFR /O2PROVIDER/AED CLASS Instructor: Chris Parker EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER/O2 PROVIDER/AED CLASS ALL FOR JUST $150.00!!!! Classroom session is Wedensday 3/31 at Giant Stride at 6:30 pm, BOOK AND PIC CARDS ARE INCLUDED. Is your 2 years up for your CPR, AED or O2 re-cert? This the best price you'll ever see so don't delay...get in to sign up or call 401 732 8808 for more details. registration

Apr. 5, 2010 - Open Water Diver Class Open Water Diver Class April 5, 2010 - Open Water Diver Class (Entry Level) Open Water Class April 5, 2010 - OPEN WATER DIVER CLASS Instructor: Chris Parker Cost: $350.00 Schedule: Monday: April 5 classroom #1: 6:30-8:30pm Monday: April 12 classroom #2: 6:30-8:30 pm Monday: April 19 classroom #3: 6:30-8:30pm Monday: April 26 classroom #4: 6:30-8:30 pm Thursday: April 8 pool #1: 7:00- 9:00 pm Thursday: April 15 pool #2: 7:00- 9:00 pm Thursday: April 22 pool #3: 7:00- 9:00 pm Thursday: April 29 pool #4: 7:00- 9:00 pm Saturday: May 1 Ocean dives 1&2 9:00am-noon Sunday: May 2 Ocean dives 1&2 9:00am-noon Classroom sessions are at the store, Pool sessions are at Health Trax, or YMCA pool, Open Water Dives will be at Ft.Wetherill. Cost: $350.00 You will need to purchase a Mask, Fins, Boots, Gloves and Hood for this class. A 10% Student discount is offered to students for the duration of the class and 30 days thereafter. This class has no hidden costs..... and includes book, tables, certification/pic card, gear and DVD/VCR Tape rental, lots of fun with an experienced staff who will not only teach you to dive but will also get you involved with dive clubs and other divers who love diving as much as you will. We don't just sell diving WE LIVE IT! Call 401-732-8808 for more info or stop by the store to enroll. registration

Apr. 10, 2010 - February 22, 2010 Open Water Diver Class This is the class that started Feb 22, 2010 and will finish up April 10th (events are auto deleted the day after date of event which is why I have it listed as 4/10/10 February, 2010 - Open Water Diver Class (Entry Level) Open Water Class February 22, 2010 - OPEN WATER DIVER CLASS Instructor: John Langella Cost: $350.00 Schedule: Monday: Feb 22 classroom #1: 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday: Feb 24 classroom #2: 6:30-8:30 pm Monday: March 1 classroom #3: 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday: March 3 pool #1: TBA Monday: March 8 classroom #4: 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesday: March 10 pool #2: TBA Monday: March 15 classroom #5: 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesday: March 17 pool #3: TBA Wednesday: March 24 pool #4: TBA Wednesday: March 31 pool #5: TBA Saturday: April 3 Ocean dives 1 & 2 9:00 am-noon Saturday: April 10 Ocean dives 3 & 4 9:00 am-noon Classroom sessions are at the store, Pool sessions are at Health Trax, or YMCA pool, Open Water Dives will be at Ft Wetherill. Pool and Ocean dives will be announced further into the class. Cost: $350.00 You will need to purchase a Mask, Fins, Boots, Gloves and Hood for this class. A 10% Student discount is offered to students for the duration of the class and 30 days thereafter. This class has no hidden costs..... and includes book, tables, certification/pic card, gear and DVD/VCR Tape rental, lots of fun with an experienced staff who will not only teach you to dive but will also get you involved with dive clubs and other divers who love diving as much as you will. We don't just sell it WE LIVE IT! Call 401-732-8808 for more info or stop by the store to enroll. registration

Apr. 18, 2010 - Charter to the Arches & Castle Hill Wall Cost is $85.00 leaving from Connanicut Marina in Jamestown @ 10:00 am registration

Apr. 25, 2010 - Giant Strides Earthday Party Volunteer for Giant Strides 4th Annual Earth Day Party 2010 with The coolest divers in New England!!! Our planet and her oceans need your help! To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day we are organizing a Dive for Earth Day Event in partnership with Giant Stride Dive Shop and the Project AWARE Foundation. Why? Human activity is costing the earth. Despite the ocean’s vast expanse it is taking its toll on aquatic eco systems. But you can choose to make a world of difference by joining Giant Strides Earth Day Party April 25th. This is your chance to get involved in a conservation activity to make a world of difference. If you're not part of the solution You are part of the problem!!! What can I do? You can clean up the shoreline even if you don't want to get in the water with the divers. Divers will use thier catch bags (or mesh collection bags provided)to collect the trash, plastic bags, water bottles and monofiliment fishing line cluttering up our seas and killing our wildlife. When? 4/25/2010 @ 11:00 AM Where? Fort Adams Harrison Ave. Newport, RI 02840(behind Eisenhour House) All divers are asked to confirm their participation before the event. Please register your participation by responding before hand. Thank you for your support, we look forward to seeing you on 4/25 to celebrate OUR Earth Day Party. I will have some dogs, burgers and a grill but this is a Pot Luck event so a dish is encouraged and please bring your own beverages. Each diver will get 1 free air fill chip upon exiting the water and turning in 1 bag of trash from thier dive. Tanks A Lot, Red registration

May 4, 2010 - OPEN WATER DIVER CLASS May, 2010 - Open Water Diver Class (Entry Level) Class starting May 4, 2010 - OPEN WATER DIVER certification class Instructor: John Langella Cost: $350.00 Schedule: Tuesday: May 4 classroom #1: 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday: May 5 pool #1: TBA Tuesday: May 11 classroom #2: 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday: May 12 pool #2: TBA Tuesday: March 18 classroom #3: 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesday: May 19 pool #3: TBA Tuesday: May 25 classroom #4: 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesday: May 17 pool #4: TBA Tuesday: June 1 classroom #5: 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesday: June 2 pool #5: TBA Saturday: June 12 Ocean dives 1 & 2 9:00 am-noon Sunday: June 13 Ocean dives 3 & 4 9:00 am-noon Classroom sessions are at the store, Pool sessions are at Health Trax, or YMCA pool, Open Water Dives will be at Ft.Wetherill. Cost: $350.00 You will need to purchase a Mask, Fins, Boots, Gloves and Hood for this class. A 10% Student discount is offered to students for the duration of the class and 30 days thereafter. This class has no hidden costs..... and includes book, tables, certification/pic card, gear and DVD/VCR Tape rental, lots of fun with an experienced staff who will not only teach you to dive but will also get you involved with dive clubs and other divers who love diving as much as you will. We don't just sell diving WE LIVE IT! Call 401-732-8808 for more info or stop by the store to enroll. registration

May 30, 2010 - U Boat / U 853 Charter U-853 Trip Join us as we dive the U853 Nazi submarine, a Type IX-C-40 built in the Deschimag Yard in Germany. We can remain at the U Boat for the second dive or vote on another wreck by those aboard according to conditions. This Charter, Canned Air, and Giant Stride Dive Shop, requires an advanced cert. with some experience diving to depths greater than 100 ft. in New England (or similar) waters. A redundant air source, lift bag or safety sausage, and whistle or horn is required. Pony bottles and regs are available to rent. Cost is $140.00 per diver and only 6 spots are available. Reservations are made by full pre-payment that is non refundable. If you cancel your reservation you forfeit the full payment. If our captain cancels the trip, we issue a full refund if you paid in cash and a store credit if paid by credit card. Cancellations by our Captain are made on the day of the charter, one hour before sailing time. We cannot guarantee dive sites, alternate dive site selection does not constitute a cancellation or a refund. Please be at the marina 1/2 hour before sailing time, to fill out a waiver, present a certification card and get fully loaded 15 minutes before departure time. Our boats sail on time and if you miss the boat it's your loss. Sign up now as these charters sell out quickly. registration

Jun. 4, 2010 - Morehead City, NC "Graveyard of the Atlantic" Jun. 4, 2009 - MOREHEAD CITY NORTH CAROLINA TRIP Dive the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” with Giant Stride Dive Shop. I come back here every year because the diving is that good. Great wrecks, sand tiger sharks (non maneaters), good pricing and great viz! The first leg of the trip when we start diving is Friday 6/4 - Monday 6/7 diving out of Olympus Dive Center on awesome wrecks at 80 to 130 fsw, viz is 40 to 100 ft. Water temp. is in the 80's! You can view the wrecks we will dive at www.olympusdiving.com cost is $135.00 per day for diving and $25.00 per day to sleep in the bunk house. (or you can arrange a motel room on your own for approx 90.00 per nite) I realize that many of you will only stay for those 4 days but depending on the interest I can charter a boat out of Carolina Beach, NC (3 hrs south of Morehead) to do a megladon shark tooth dive in the ocean Tuesday...they are finding teeth up to 7 inches long! Cost is $160.00 for that dive and lodging is not included & will be at a motel of your choice. I drive down so i can take my own tanks and gear. (you can rent tanks and lead from Olympus if you Fly & don't want to drive. Morehead is a 14 hour drive, Carolina Beach is 3 hours south of that.) Must have an Advanced Open Water Cert., SMB, safety sausage or liftbag, whistle and redundsant airsource. Hyperbaric Insurance is also mandatory! There is no need to go back the 7th if you have a few more days to burn we can dive some more. I always stay 1 or 2 extra days and anyone is welcome to join me. Call 4o1-7three2-8808 or come in and sign up, and leave a deposit to insure your spot. Deposits constitute a commitment and are non refundable. Cost is $135.00 per day for diving $25.00 per nite for lodging at the bunk house for the Morehead City. Cost is $160.00 per day. registration

Jun. 27, 2010 - Sunday Charter TBD Sunday Charter TBD I will be posting the destinations for these charters in the next week or so but these dates are reserved. registration

Jul. 18, 2010 - Sunday Charter TBD Sunday Charter TBD I will be posting the destinations for these charters in the next week or so but these dates are reserved. registration

Aug. 29, 2010 - Sunday Charter TBD Sunday Charter TBD I will be posting the destinations for these charters in the next week or so but these dates are reserved. registration

Sep. 12, 2010 - Sunday Charter TBD Sunday Charter TBD I will be posting the destinations for these charters in the next week or so but these dates are reserved. registration

Oct. 10, 2010 - Sunday Charter TBD Sunday Charter TBD I will be posting the destinations for these charters in the next week or so but these dates are reserved. registration

Jan. 1, 2011 - BLUE LIP DIP NEW YEARS DAY DIVE BLUE LIP DIP SATURDAY JAN 1, 2011 Giant Stride Dive Shop will be starting the New Year off with a dive at Fort Weatherill. Diving will start at around 11:00 am so please arrive early to secure a parking spot. This is a Pot Luck event and a dish and BYOB is encouraged. I will have a tent with a heater and hopefully will see you there. If its pouring rain or blowing a gale we will reschedule to Sunday January 2. Please RSVP so we know how many are to expect. Happy Holidays and a fantastic New Year. I will be diving wet as is the custom for this event but "Drysuit weenies" are welcome as well. registration

Jan. 22, 2011 - GIANT STRIDE DIVE SHOPS AQUACAT LIVE ABOARD DIVE TRIP Join Giant Stride Dive shop for liveaboard scuba diving and snorkeling in the Bahamas on the Aqua Cat. We offer a large variety of dives; shark feeding dives, blue holes, high speed drift dives, walls and shallow patch reefs. Each week we cruise from Nassau, Bahamas to the remote islands of the Exumas, and especially the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the most pristine area in all the Bahamas. Your liveaboard adventure vacation is on the 102' catamaran Aqua Cat. This is the ultimate escape aboard your own private luxury yacht. Imagine sinking your toes into sugar sand, snorkeling or diving among the lemon sharks and sting rays, or hiking the trails of pirates and bootleggers of years gone by. No crowds, no set itineraries, nothing to do but sit back, relax and choose from an incredible variety of liveaboard activities including scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, sunbathing, and island exploring. If you aren't a certified scuba diver, the Aqua Cat offers full certification scuba diving lessons during your adventure vacation. Aqua Cat offers top of the line high quality scuba rental gear for those who require it. Photographers will find underwater life in the Exumas some of the most prolific and varied of any coral reef in the world. Aqua Cat enables you to scuba dive remote walls, wrecks, and coral reefs with sharks. Let Aqua Cat be your floating resort while on your adventure vacation with captain and crew at your service. With bar, meals, scuba diving and water sports included in the price or your liveaboard adventure vacation, Aqua Cat is comparably priced to a Caribbean luxury cruise or resort vacation, only the service is much more personal. Nitrox is available on your Bahamas adventure vacation for just $150.00 for the whole week. Your Bahamas adventure will include dramatic walls with plenty of swim throughs, friendly grouper, thrilling shark encounters, drift dives and mysterious blue holes. Many of the scuba diving sites you will visit are frequented by Caribbean Reef Sharks and Nurse Sharks. You can also see Lemon Sharks at the Land and Sea Park. And don't miss out on the shark feed dive offered during your vacation. You will experience truly virgin diving in the Exumas. For over 30 years, much of the northern Exumas has been a National Underwater Park with no fishing, spearfishing or collecting allowed. Because of these laws there are miles and miles of undersea gardens. The reefs are perfect for snorkeling with gin clear waters and lots of fish. You will have a great time exploring the 200 mostly uninhabited islands with their many beautiful beaches in the northern Exumas. The Aqua Cat has a 28' launch that can take you to isolated beaches where you can sunbathe, explore, kayak, snorkel or fish. The Aqua Cat offers luxury accommodations, a spacious main salon and an extremely smooth ride. The Aqua Cat cruises at a speed of 14-knots getting you to the uninhabited islands of the Bahamas and dive sites quickly while her 35-ft beam will ensure a smooth ride. The eleven passenger cabins are some of the largest of any liveaboard in the world with their own private bathroom and shower. This all inclusive trip is just $1995.00 plus Park, Port and fuel surcharge of $190.00 There is also a forward cabin that will house 2 divers in bunk beds for just $1495.00 for the frugal traveler. Everyone that came for the 2010 Trip had a blast with 24 possible dives including swimming with ferrel pigs, feeding grapes to Bahamaian Iguanas, Freediving in Thunderball Cave (of the James Bonds Movie)and sharing a great vacation with a really fun crowd. Stop in the store to sign up and insure your spot on this trip. registration

Apr. 23, 2011 - Giant Strides Truk Lagoon Wreck Fest I have dived Chuuk (or Truk Lagoon as we know it) twice before and this is the best wreck diving in the world so if you are a Wreckaholic like me you will be astounded at the marine life, beauty, history and artifacts present here! These are the most colorful wrecks I have ever seen. We will be diving from the Live Aboard Dive Ship S.S. Thorfin with a Base price of $2950.00 without flight. Flight details as of now are not available as you can't book a flight more than 330 days out. We will probably leave on the 21st and get back late the 30th or May 1st. I am estimating the cost of flight according to current rates at $1850.00 and is from Boston not LAX making total cost of this trip $4800.00 (surcharge may be implemented if airfare price increases) not including tips, alcohal or $20.00 departure tax that you must pay yourself at the airport. This includes 7 days of up to 5 dives per day, meals, soft drinks, "Q" Fees, Dive permit, up to 3 32% nitrox fills per day, airport transfers, Ride to the airport from RI, accomodations(double occupancy) and diving. Tech Diving is accomodated (w/proper cert), and 80 cu ft Aluminium Doubles (manifolded) are available @ $120.00 weekly and 30 cu ft stages @ $30.00 are available for the week as well(not including O2 Fills). Most Wrecks are within recreational diving limits and are awesome with all but 4 wrecks out of 70 being beyond that. Water temps are around 85 degrees with viz from 40-100 feet. You can go to thier website here http://thorfinn.net/index.php and check out the ship, wrecks, and any other info you could want for this trip! A non refundable $500.00 deposit holds your spot and the balance must be paid before October 1st 2010 or rates will increase for 2011. DAN insurance or equivelent is REQUIRED on this ship. IF YOU LOVE WRECKS DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!! UPDATE: NOW SOLD OUT FOR THE ORIGINAL 10 SPOTS (I got as show special with only a maximum of 10 Divers). Roster for these 10 are: Red, Kirstin, Gordon & Michelle, Kevin, Patric, John, Phil ,Kate, and Cesar. The price for any additional divers wanting to go now the cost of the trip is $4800.00 for any additional spots. If you want to use air miles or reward points & make your own flight arrangements price is $2950.00 all inclusive except tips, alcohal and $20.00 departure tax that you must pay yourself at the airport upon departure. Make sure your passport is in order and has at least 8 months left before expiration at the time of the trip!!! registration