Nov. 20, 2008 - PADI NITROX CLASS
Thursday nov. 20- 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,2 NITROX FILLS 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

Nov. 29, 2008 - Scallop Dive Through Metro West Dive Club
Rick Marshal from Metro West Dive Club is having a scallop dive on November 29 through Cape Ann Divers. Cost is $75.00 Must be AOW certified and take 1 dive flag per team. Drysuits are STRONGLY recommended. Contact him at MWDC.org registration

Dec. 7, 2008 - 4th Annual Cozumel Trip
Come dive Cozumel with Giant Stride Dive Shop December 7th to the 14th. The cost is a mere $1899.00 and includes round trip airfare from Providence, round trip transfers to and from airport, taxes, 3 meals per day, 5 days 2 tank boat dives, unlimited shore diving, accomodations in ocean view room (based on double occupancy), and a Cenotes Cavern Dive (for those who want to dive in a dream world). Call 401 732 8808 for more info or stop in to put down a deposit of $200.00 with the balance of $1699.00 due on or before September 15th. registration

Mar. 12, 2009 - Beqa (pronounced benga) Lagoon ,Fiji Dive Trip
Join Giant Stride Dive Shop as we dive the warm clear waters of Beqa Lagoon, Fiji. I have stayed in this resort before and it is a magnificent paradise. Departing LAX March 12th returning March 22nd (2009) Trip is $3300.00 and includes Airfare from LAX to Fiji and return flight from Fiji to LAX. (You are responsible for your flight from home to LAX and LAX home.) Acomodations, (based on double occupancy),all meals excluding beverages,6 days of 2 tank diving,including an optional shark dive for those that want to participate,1 night dive,and unlimited shore dives are also included in the price. A possible fuel sur charge is not included. A 10% deposit ($330.00)must be in by May 20th 2008 to qualify for this pricing. Payment of $1500.00 is due by 8/15/08 with the balance of $1500.00 due 1/05/09. Call 401 732 8808 for more details. Deposits constitute a committment and are NON-REFUNDABLE! registration

Apr. 1, 2009 - ADVANCED NITROX AND DECO PROCEDURES
APRIL 1,2009 @6:30pm ADVANCED NITROX AND DECO PROCEDURES ORIENTATION. We will make up the schedule to accomodate all involved. This is your opportunity to go beyond advanced open water and hit some of the deeper wrecks this state has to offer like The Bass,The Dixon,The Voland, the Cape Fear and more. TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedure is the next step in Tech Diving and at a great price....just $800.00 When these 2 classes are taught together classroom time is about 8 hours instead of 12 hours and only 8-10 dives rather than 12. Of course this is a class for those who are VERY COMFORTABLE in the water. Tanks and regulators can be rented but it is recommended that at this stage in your diving that you have your own gear. As a Giant Stride Student you will receive a 10% discount. If interested please contact me so I can get a count. Also if you start making payments now of 100.00 per week you'll be paid off before we start the class. The TDI Advanced Nitrox course is for those divers who want to optimize their gas mixes when planning dives up 150ft. During the course you will be taught how to effectively use EANx 21 through 100% oxygen. The main objective is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for utilizing 21-100% oxygen for dives NOT requiring staged decompression. (Decompression techniques may be combined with this course at the discretion of the instructor.) Prerequisites: · Minimum age: 15 unless taught in conjunction with the TDI Decompression Procedures course and then 18 is the minimum age. · Minimum certification: TDI Nitrox or equivalent. · Logged dives: Minimum of 25 open water dives, or the equivalent at the discretion of the instructor, in the environment in which the course is being presented. · The instructor has final approval on accepting anyone into the class even though minimum requirements have been met. Course Minimums: · Classroom/Briefings- Approximately 6+ hours · Open water dives- 4 (with a minimum accumulated bottom time of 100 minutes). Required Equipment: The following equipment is the minimum required for each student: · Manifolded double Tanks and stage bottle · Submersible pressure gauge · Depth gauge and automatic bottom timer and/or dive computer · Back-plate/wing · Exposure suit adequate for the open water environment (dry suit preferred) · Tank and regulator properly labeled and cleaned as required for EANx mixtures · Access to an oxygen analyzer (instructor may supply) Required Subject Areas: · Physics – review on pressure · Physiology- review of hypoxia, oxygen toxicity (whole body/OTU's, CNS toxicity), nitrogen narcosis, nitrogen absorption and elimination, carbon dioxide toxicity, carbon monoxide toxicity · Formula work-best mix calculations, MOD for mix calculations · Equipment considerations- up to 40% and above 40% use of oxygen · Dive tables-EAD use with any table, computer generated tables · Dive computers-air, nitrox and multi gas · Dive planning-Operational: gas requirements, O2 limitations, Nitrogen limitations · Common mixing procedures-Partial pressure, continuous blending, membrane separation system · Decompression-EANx usage as a deco gas, 100% O2 for deco, Advantage/disadvantages of multiple gas switches. Required Open Water Skills: · Properly analyze gas mixtures · Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning; Limits based on personal gas consumption, limits based on O2 exposure at planned depth, limits based on nitrogen absorption at planned depth with actual mix Graduation Requirements: · Satisfactorily complete the TDI Advanced Nitrox Course written exam · Complete ALL open water requirements safely and efficiently · Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution. Required Academic materials: · TDI Advanced Nitrox Student manual · TDI EAD Tables TDI Decompression Procedures This course examines the theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. It is designed as a stand-alone course or it may be taught in conjunction with such TDI courses as Advanced Nitrox. The main objective is to train divers how to plan and conduct a standard staged decompression dive not exceeding the maximum depth of 150 fsw unless taught in conjunction with the TDI Advanced Nitrox. The most common equipment requirements/configurations, gear set-ups, decompression techniques and decompression mixtures are presented. Prerequisites: · Minimum age 18 · Minimum of 25 logged open water dives, or the equivalent at the discretion of the instructor, in the environment in which the course is being presented. · The instructor has final approval authority on accepting anyone into the class even though minimum prerequisites have been met. Course minimums: · Classroom/briefing - approximately 6 hours · Open water dives - 4 Required Equipment: · Primary cylinders- Cylinder volume appropriate for planned dive and student gas consumption and with reserve gas. · Decompression Mix Cylinders- Cylinder volume appropriate for the planned dive and student gas consumption with gas reserve. SPG's required on stage cylinder/regs. Cylinders labeled in accordance with TDI standards. · Depth gauge and automatic bottom timer and/or dive computer. (Back up bottom timing and depth gauge highly recommended). · Regulators-Primary and alternate second stage required on all primary cylinders. SPG's are required on all cylinders. · Back-plate adequate for equipment configuration. · Jon-line and other rigging lines as dictated by site conditions. · Ascent reel with lift bag/surface marker buoy. Line on reel adequate for planned depth. Minimum 50lb lift bag. · Exposure suit adequate for maximum planned depth. Argon may be used for dry suits. · O2 analyzer (may be supplied by the instructor) · Underwater slate. · If using doubles/twin tank kits: isolator manifold with two regulators. 7' hose to be on the primary regulator. DIN valve manifolds preferred. Required Subject areas: · Overview of decompression "safety stops" compared to required stops. · Physics-pressure review, formulas for solving dive planning, MOD, Best Mix, etc. · Physiology-Mechanics of bubble formation, Oxygen toxicity (whole body-out's and CNS), advantage of hyperoxic mixes for decompression, Nitrogen absorption and elimination, Carbon Dioxide Toxicity, Ascent/Descent rates, Hyperthermia, Hypothermia, Psychological aspects-task loading, stress, panic, time management, equipment. · Decompression Options- air, nitrox, oxygen, air breaks during deco · Equipment considerations-twin cylinder or single cylinder option, valve options. Stage cylinder options, regulator options, harness/BCD options, computer, depth gauge, bottom timer options, ascent and navigations reels, lift bags/surface marker buoys for drifting or free deco, jon-lines or Garvin clips, proper weighting and buoyancy control during dive phase and deco. · Dive tables vs. Computer-Intro and review of different models, proper use of electronic multi level computers for dive planning and deco, mix adjustable, O2 integrated, Deco planning software use. · Dive planning-standard operation, gas requirements, oxygen limitations, and nitrogen limitations. Emergency planning-omitted deco, oxygen toxicity, DCS/DCI, equipment failure. · Procedures o Primary and decompression gas-normal operations, failure, loss or inadequate emergency procedures. Analysis and logging. Safeguards and deco supply regulators. Rigging and deployment of deco gear. o Descent-Methods of entry, down lines or free descent. Organization of equipment carried by a diver.Ascent-variable rates. Trim and buoyancy compensation. o Fixed or Drifting Deco methods- up lines fixed to bottom. Reels and lift bags/surface marker buoys. Free drifting stages or live boat supply. Self contained versus surface supply/rendezvous gas cylinders. o Support-From shore. From descent line or fixed platform. From live boat. Required Open Water Skills: The students must complete the following open water skills during open water dives. The recommended maximum depth for this course is 130 fsw unless combined with other TDI courses where more advanced depth techniques are incorporated into the program. · Properly analyze all gas mixtures and label cylinders accordingly. · Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning-Limits based on personal and team gas consumption. Exact dive and decompression profiles. · Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits- Assembly of diver carried equipment. Proper descent/ascent rates. Proper staged stop procedures. Monitoring of decompression status equipment (tables, computers, other equipment). · Contingency Situation & Problem Solving-Omitted decompression. Extended bottom time profiles with increased decompression and re-calculated schedules. Failure to deploy lift bag and reel. Missed up-line or missed boat anchor. Loss of decompression gas. · A safety stop of at least three minutes shall be conducted on all no-decompression dives and proper staged decompression stops whenever and wherever mandated. · Demonstrate the correct deployment of a lift bag using a dive reel and/or up-line. · Demonstrate (simulated) emergency gas sharing at a stationary depth not to exceed 100 fsw or a PO2 of 1.6ATA. · Demonstrate emergency deployment of a backup regulator or bailout scuba system containing bottom mix at a depth not exceeding 100 fsw or a PO2 of 1.6ATA. · Demonstrate the proper deployment, management and use of the bottom mix; decompression mix and travel mix if used. Conservative gas management. Depth control to avoid descending to deep for mix. Show appropriate and timely responses to instruction/signals form the instructor and demonstrate buoyancy control and awareness throughout the dive. Graduation requirements: Satisfactorily complete the TDI Decompression Procedures Course written exam. Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently. Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution. Support materials: TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures Diver manual Cost: $800.00 plus Academic material- $70.00), C-cards, boat charter fees as needed and gas fees for deco/nitrox mixes.You must have DAN hyperbaric insurance or the equivelent to participate. Please bring DAN and other cert cards when you sign up. registration

Jun. 5, 2009 - Jun. 5, 2007 - MOREHEAD CITY NORTH CAROLINA TRIP
Jun. 5, 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 6/5 - Sunday 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 80.00 per nite) I realize that many of you will only stay for those 3 days but Monday 6/8 I have chartered a boat out of Carolina Beach, NC (3 hrs south of Morehead) to do a meglodon shark tooth dive in the ocean ...they are finding teeth up to 7 inches long! Do you want one? Cost is $160.00 for that dive and lodging is 25.00 in their bunk house. 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 strongly encouraged! 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 $480.00 for just the Morehead City portion and $185.00 for The Meglodon Shark Tooth dive totaling $665.00 for 4 nights lodging and 4 days of Great Diving. registration