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Colorado is a landlocked state hundreds of miles from the nearest coast, but you can nonetheless take pleasure in scuba diving; Colorado has a number of lakes and rivers that can offer challenge and enjoyment. A Colorado scuba or snorkel diving family vacation is not as far-fetched as you may surmise. For all those who are "hard-core" about their scuba diving, Colorado lakes and rivers are just as good as anyplace in the globe.

The City That Drowned
One of the much more intriguing locations for a Colorado scuba diving family vacation is Horsetooth Reservoir southwest of Fort Collins. In 1946, the federal Bureau of Reclamation chose to drown the town of Stout, based along the La Poudre River. By 1949, the dam was finished and Stout, which had been established only seventy years earlier as a camp for stone quarry workers, had to be abandoned. The remains of the city are still beneath water at the lake’s southern end; with suitable training and dive gear, Colorado scuba divers can enjoy a fine adventure.

Historic Mining
Following outfitting at their nearby Colorado scuba diving equipment supplier, scuba divers may possibly wish to head for the higher nation to the historic mining community of Leadville, in which scenic Turquoise Lake is correct close by. The lake provides some exceptional opportunities for exploration by way of scuba diving; Colorado’s mining market was the heart and soul of the state’s economy for decades. Provided the close by town’s historical significance, who understands what exciting artifacts a diver may encounter on a Colorado scuba diving holiday?

Obtaining Your Dive Gear
Colorado has its fair share of merchants that sell correct tools, staffed by experienced personnel who also offer certification courses. Colorado diving equipment suppliers can also give you insight as to exactly where in the state to go. If you have the time and cash to go even more afield, however, the very good folks at Colorado scuba diving equipment supply shops can also arrange scuba diving vacations to other, much more exotic destinations as properly.

In any event, you will will need to be certified prior to you go scuba diving. Colorado demands are just as stringent as other spots in the U.S., and this of course is for your personal protection; you’ll need to have to know about the regular hazards, protection practices and how to correctly use and care for dive products. Colorado divemasters and senior divers local to the area can take you on this adventure and assist you in getting prepared for the scuba diving colorado specialties you will need to enjoy your vacation.

The following is stolen from my dear friend Duane Johnson of Precision Diving.net

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are his, and K2 Scuba Online, Tevis Verrett, and the staff all endorse without qualification Duane Johnson as he has the balls to speak the truth rather than following lock step the dogma of a failing scuba industry, manufacturers and certifiying organizations all. . .

Early this week, I was talking with a friend who happened to mention that a dive store wasn’t doing very well and was trying to sell off a part of their business. We started discussing our current national economic situation and the impact on the scuba diving industry. How can dive centers survive in this very tough economy? How can scuba equipment manufacturers help the dive stores?

One thing I think I would eliminate would be MAP or MSRP. For those of you who do not know what MAP or MSRP is. MAP stands for Manufacturer Advertised Price. Basically, the manufacturer tells the dive store the minimum price that their products must be advertised at. MSRP stands for Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price. MSRP is basically what the manufacturer tells the dive centers what they can sell their products at. Why is this hurting the dive industry? Because when consumers research what products they want to buy, they see it listed on eBay, Leisure Pro or what ever. Then they go into their local dive store and see the same product listed for a higher price. Guess where they are going to buy it? By lifting MAP, MSRP, or online selling restrictions, dive stores can start to compete equally in a free market environment. There are many ways scuba manufacturers can protect their brand/reputation without forcing dive stores to sell at higher prices. By trying to scare consumers with terms like black market products, or no free regulator parts.

Dive stores can take advantage of traditional advertising. Print advertising is dirt cheap right now. Think about alternative customer bases and advertise towards that market niche. Perfect example. I talked to a local dive store owner about advertising in a popular gay and lesbian magazine. He had a look of horror on his face. He didn’t feel that that was the clientele he wanted to target. I doubt he was homophobic, but was nervous what others may think. I thought this was ridiculous. After all, the money used by the gay community is the same color used by us heteros. But you can see how getting your name out to other population niches can help you survive this tough economy. By utilizing the cheap advertising rates for traditional media can help you bring in new customers.

Are these just my opinions? Yes. However, I do have a MBA, have consulted for small businesses, and teach business classes at the college level. So I do have a little bit of credibility.

These were just a couple ways that dive stores can use to help survive till the economy starts to turn around. I welcome your suggestions and comments.

Dive Safe,
Duane Johnson
Precision Diving

My .o2 from the dive operations perspective.  MAP is both good and bad, Duane has explicated the bad.  In defence, K2 is an authorized dealer of all the product we carry.  Leisure Pro and Scuba dot com are not necessarily our competition as Walmart is not competition for Neiman Marcus or Nordstroms.

As a relatively new player, MAP allows a more level playing field for the dive shop as well as K2 as an internet presence.  If we were to go to battle with the massive war chest of the market makers mentioned above, they could keep dropping prices until they put the competition out of business.

At K2 we sell at the same price position of LP and S.com and add a 365 day return guarantee, a perfect fit guarantee, exemplary customer service to differenentiate ourselves from the discount houses.  MAP gives us a more level playing field. . .

. . . so new subject. . . the stupidity of Aqua Lung and ScubaPro to NOT sell their product online, when are they going to step into the new millenium?

Your thoughts?  Im putting my flame pants on. . .thanks again to Duane, my friend, compadre, and mentor in certain ways. . .

Tevis

The OC1 is an all-in-one dive computer featuring a precision digital compass, dot matrix display, wireless Buddy Pressure Check and so much more. SmartGlo backlighting and audible alarms keep you current when every second counts.

• Precision Digital Compass including North, reference modes and declination adjustment

(See a much better picture of the Oceanic OC1 Dive Computer and sign up for our pre launch newsletter here)

• Titanium Housing

• Dot Matrix Display provides superior readability and intuitive user interface

• Digital Watch, Air, Nitrox, Gauge and Free Dive Modes

• Switch between up to 3 independent wireless transmitters, tracking 3 Nitrox mixes or buddy’s tank pressure with Buddy Pressure CheckTM

• Audible Alarms with User Acknowledgment

• SmartGlo® Backlighting

• Includes OceanLog® PC Download and Settings Upload Software and USB cable

Sport Divers Magazine - Editor’s Pick – March 2009

COOL FACTOR
Enough functionality to make 007′s gadget man, Q, raise an eyebrow in approval.

KEY FEATURES
This do-everything machine includes a digital compass, dot-matrix display and functionality to switch among three wireless transmitters. The latter allows for a buddy pressure-check function. Four dive modes handle air, nitrox, gauge and free-dive duties, and the dot-matrix display is crisp and easy on the eyes. All of this comes wrapped in a strong, lightweight titanium housing. SmartGlo backlighting works great in low-light conditions and at night, and the system includes Oceanic’s software along with a USB cable for integration with a PC.

Any other retailer that is offering this for presale is selling “vaporware.” Oceanic will be well stocked and inside word is that there is no definitive launch date set.  Maybe the end of March, maybe the middle of April. . but rest assured that EVERY authorized Oceanic Dealer will have ample stock to sell, so dont believe the hype!

This is a slick ol computer tho’ and Oceanic’s Research and Development has set the standard. . .and spanked the competition. . .again!

So rather than paying somebody for the privilege to hold your money, sign up for our newsletter here, or subscribe to our RSS feed here.

. . . and when they are released we will share with you!

. . . and since we guarantee deliverablility with the K2 Difference, you WILL still be the koolest kid on the block  when the launch happens.

No hype, just guaranteed quality service, and treatment as if you were a friend.  Welcome to K2, welcome home!

What happens in Laguna, Stays in Laguna. . .

Event Info

Host:

Team K2 SCUBA & Freediving

Type:

Party – Barbecue

Network:

Global

Time and Place

Date:

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Time:

9:00am – 6:00pm

Location:

Heisler Park

Street:

375 Cliff Drive

City/Town:

Laguna Beach, CA

View Map

Google

MapQuest

Microsoft

Yahoo

Contact Info

Phone:

8189822652

Email:

admin@k2scuba.com

Description

This is the happy continuance of our weekly/bi monthly beach diving gathering/socializing!

We are once again crashing the paarty, so as good citizens of the K2 Familydom, we hafta bring something so please think of groceries for your self and two more!
I like anything pastries, and you carnivores bring something to burn!

Laguna is a little piece of diving heaven on the beautiful Southern California Coast. . and it is the home of the "Housewives of Orange County."

You get the beauty of Catalina, without the large sucking sound of spending $$$, large and your whole day on a rocking boat.
Also, since I just loove you all, Again, I’m going to do a beach diving primer at 10/11a for those rusty/or new to beach diving, more info as we get closer!

. . and let me make this perfectly clear, NON DIVERS ARE WELCOME AND CRAVED! This is about friendships and camaraderie with a little bit of diving mixed in!

We have developed a Beach Diving Calendar on the K2 Homepage in the header under "Dive Calendar" or just bookmark: http://bit.ly/4zuF4i
This is about meeting folks and becoming friends so one (or two) dives and then retire to a slick beach side bar for a witty repartee.
This time, we are staying at the the Park!

Finally, since Bruce Bearfield of Dive Rite is in the HOOUSE, I am going to to see if we can get some toys to demo/play with!
Any other suggestions?  This is about taking care of YOU!

Triple finally, take my number 818 982 2652, in the event you get lost, or cannot find the location. . . call me, and I will vector you in!

Tevis

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About the Academy of Scuba

The Academy of Scuba is the leading standard for Scuba training. Conceived from the notion that there is no benchmark for advanced level Scuba diver training, the Academy of Scuba endeavors to keep pushing the level of Scuba training higher and higher.

The Purpose of the Academy of Scuba
To serve as an industry leader for developing, marketing, implementing and reinforcing advanced level Scuba diver training programs. Our purpose is to not just put people in the water, but to keep people in the water. The Academy of Scuba will increase enjoyment, adventure and safety through increased education and more frequent dive experience.

Vision of the Academy of Scuba
To be known as the industry leader for providing the highest quality advanced level Scuba instruction and consistently delivering outstanding customer service and support to our students and customers. Set the standard for training excellence; be an industry trailblazer.

Academy of Scuba Mission Statement: Our Highest Priority
Our highest priority is always safety. To never compromise student/customer safety in training. To honor industry standards while providing unparalleled experience in training and to strive for excellence in everything we do. This mission is without compromise.

Short Term Goal for the Academy of Scuba
Deliver consistent, highest caliber instruction to adults and children in every class.

Long-Term Goal for the Academy of Scuba
To continually grow our curriculum to meet the needs of our customers. Listen to our students and follow their needs, not our own. To deliver the broadest and deepest educational system in the Scuba industry.