Sep. 7, 2010 - PADI OPEN WATER CLASS / DIVE LESSONS September, 2010 - Open Water Diver Class (Entry Level) Class starting September 7, 2010 - OPEN WATER DIVER certification class Instructor: John Langella Cost: $350.00 Schedule: Tuesday: Sept. 7 classroom #1: 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday: Sept. 8 pool #1: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Healthtrax Tuesday: Sept. 14 classroom #2: 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday: Sept. 15 pool #2: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Healthtrax Tuesday: March 21 classroom #3: 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesday: Sept. 22 pool #3: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Healthtrax Tuesday: Sept. 28 classroom #4: 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesday: Sept. 29 pool #4: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Healthtrax Tuesday: October 5 classroom #5: 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesday: October 6 pool #5: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Healthtrax Saturday: October 2 Ocean dives 1 & 2 9:00 am-noon Saturday: October 9 Ocean dives 3 & 4 9:00 am-noon Classroom sessions are at the store, Pool sessions are at HealthTrax, 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!!! It includes the book, tables, certification/pic card, gear and DVD/VCR Tape rental. Also included is 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

Sep. 12, 2010 - Bass & U853 Wreck Dive SOLD OUT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bass & U853 Wreck Dive This is a Very Advanced dive with maximum depths of 165 feet and requires an Advanced Nitrox /Deco Procedures Certification or a logbook/experience with similar depth and conditions. Cost is $160.00 aboard Canned Air and will sell out fast. Double Tanks are reccomended, but Redundant Airsource and standard safety equiptment IS required. 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. If conditions are awesome and the majority want to stay on the Bass for the 2nd dive we will do so. 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 Point Judith 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. registration

Sep. 17, 2010 - Good Night Idene!!!! Good Night Idene!!!!(Night Dive at Block island) This is 2 night dives on the Idene Wreck after dark. This charter leaves the dock just after 6:00 PM and returns around 10:00. Must be AOW certified and have at least 2 lights,wreck reel,safety sausage or SMB and a whistle. Cost is $140.00 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. registration

Sep. 21, 2010 - Argonaut Charter to Goosberry Arches Goosberry Arches & 2ND DIVE TBD wWe leave Connanicut Marina at 9:00am You must have an Open Water Certification(please bring c card or log book in when you sign up). Required equiptment: SMB or safe-t-sausage, & Whistle. Cost: $85.00 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. registration

Sep. 23, 2010 - Under Water Hockey Rhode Island Red Under Water Hockey League is starting up again.......... I just started playing UW Hockey last season and it's Fun as all hell and a great way to increase your breath hold capablitys, excersize and relieve stress as well. This is a mixed crowd of both males and females, young and not so young and from beginner to annoyingly awesome players. This is a "pick-up game" so teams change each week. It is very humbling at first and a little crazy until you start to get in the bait ball of stick weilding, lead puck (teflon coated)wrangling, players that seem not to need to breathe much at all. It is tiring and I was sore from using muscles I don't regularly use but it was awesome! Of course we go out for beers after as is the custom to talk and socialize as well as for the NewBees (like me) to ask questions and learn from the pros. This Thursday will be the 3rd time for me and this sport is open to any that would like to join even if only for one time. It starts at 7:30 - 7:45 pm in Providence to get (un)dressed and warm up. The first time is on the house and repeat participation is a $10.00 contribution to help pay for the pool. All you need in the beginning is a bathing suit, mask Fins and snorkel. There will be sticks and gloves and helmet available. Think you are up to it??? Wanna have a great time with a bunch of divers who like to get wet and keep skills sharp in the winter........ Check out these websites below or call Giant Stride For more info. http://groups.google.com/group/rireduwh/web/regional-games?hl=en http://www.rireduwh.com/ Rhode Island Red Underwater Hockey is sponsored by Giant Stride Dive Shop who gives a 10% discount to team players for any items purchased in the dive shop. When: Thursday nights, 7:30 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. Where: The Jewish Community Center pool, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI. 02906. Phone: 401-732-8808 registration

Sep. 25, 2010 - International Coastal Clean-Up Day Sep. 25, 2010 - International Coastal Clean-Up Day Splash for Trash with Giant Stride at the 2010 International Coastal Cleanup,September 20th at Ft Adams, Newport, RI starting at 10am. It is a beach/ocesanfront cleanup followed by an underwater dive cleanup.We need divers and non-divers alike so everyone is welcome. I'll supply the trash bags, data sheets, pencils, and gloves. Divers bring their dive gear and a catch bag for the underwater trash collection. This event is coordinated worldwide by the Ocean Conservancy, however volunteers are the backbone of these events. Volunteers receive a T-Shirt for their effort and many local schools and organizations (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, URI, and UCONN) offer environmental conservancy credits for students who participate in this event. For more information about the cleanup at Ft Adams call 401 732 8808 or stop in Giant Stride Dive Shop. Larger groups if you call me with your group total and that will help me with the T-Shirt count for the event. Bring your groups club banner or flag to include in a large group photo we take displaying the proud volunteers along with the collected items. This will be followed by a BBQ/Cook-out with the contribution of a dish encouraged and BYOB. Lets clean up "OUR" Shoreline/Ocean and have a great time doing it! For those of you that don't know where about we're meeting paste the following link to your browser: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=&daddr=41.473702,-71.344378&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=16&sll=41.471351,-71.339765&sspn=0.011367,0.027723&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16 registration

Sep. 26, 2010 - Sunday Charter TBD Sunday Charter TBD on Priority 2.... I will be posting the destinations for these charters in the future but have these dates reserved. What wreck would you like to dive? If there's 2 or mor I will take requests......Contact me at the store. Red registration

Oct. 10, 2010 - U Boat / U 853 Charter 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

Oct. 24, 2010 - Sunday Charter TBD Sunday Charter TBD on Priority 2.... I will be posting the destinations for these charters in the future but have these dates reserved. What wreck would you like to dive? If there's 2 or mor I will take requests......Contact me at the store. Red registration

Dec. 29, 2010 - GIANT STRIDE DIVE SHOPS AQUACAT NEW YEARS DIVE TRIP Join Giant Stride Dive Shop on a liveaboard Catamaran for New Years Eve scuba diving and snorkeling in the Bahamas on the Aqua Cat. What a great way to ring in the new year!!! 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. Return on January 4th. 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

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