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| Sunday, September 05, 2010 - Your Fall Dive Planning Guide from Olympus Dive Center |
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Greetings from Olympus Dive Center
No Damage from Hurricane Earl
We are happy to report that what turned out to be category 2 Hurricane Earl moved offshore of the east coast without creating any lasting problems. We have resumed dive charters daily and are open for business!
2 Tank Shallow Dives
Our shallow charters have been the hit of this summer season with better then average visibility, lots of fish life and tons of sand tiger sharks. In an effort to give you what you are asking for, we are now offering 2 Tank Shallow Dives more often. These charters are to rarely visited sites like Ashkhabad and Fenwick Isle, or to more familiar sites like the Ario, Suliode, Titan and Indra. For these charters, you can expect an average of 45 minutes of bottom time and even get to sleep in a little bit in the mornings. Departure time each morning is 9am and we should be back to the dock around 2pm. Cost of the 2 Tank Shallow Charter is $125 and the dates that we are offering them are as follows:
- Friday, September 10
- Friday, September 17
- Friday, September 14
- Friday, October 1 (departure time for this date is 7am to get you back in time for the NC Seafood Festival)
We can also run these on select weekend dates as well and are willing to run with as few as 6 divers. If you interested in booking a weekend 2 Tank Shallow Charter as well, please call us and we will do our best to accommodate!
Introducing the Thomas S.
Bringing a new boat and captain into the charter line-up is not something we take lightly at Olympus Dive Center. With that, we would like you to join us in welcoming Captain Anthony Elliott and his boat Thomas S. to the diving community. Thomas S. is a 35 foot, 6 passenger dive boat equipped with all of the same features that our other 2 dive vessels have. We are available to charter this vessel for 2 Tank Shallow Charters as well as Morning Half Day Charters on most all Friday’s and Weekend Days.
Morning Half Day Charters
 We now have the ability to run Morning Half Day Charters! Morning Half Day Charters are the same as our regular Half Day Charters, they just leave earlier in the day. Departure time is 9am so you’ll need to be on our docks at 8am and expect to be back at noon to spend the rest of the day with your family. Morning Half Day Charter are available every Saturday and Sunday in September, as well as the following dates in October:
- Saturday, October 2 (departure time is 7am to get you back in time to enjoy the NC Seafood Festival)
- Sunday, October 3 (departure time is 7am to get you back in time to enjoy the NC Seafood Festival)
- Sunday, October 24
Stay at the Beach for Less!
The Sheraton Atlantic Beach has offered a special, reduced rate of $89 a night to our guests for following dates:
- September 11 and 12
- October 9 and 10
- October 16 and 17
- October 23 and 24
- Halloween Weekend, October 10 and 31
Bring your dive buddies or family and take advantage of this awesome rate at the only ocean front hotel in the area. The Sheraton Atlantic Beach is an extremely comfortable hotel that features an indoor pool/spa, a very nice Italian Restaurant onsite, as well as a beach bar! They are also conveniently located between the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores as well as Historic Fort Macon.
North Carolina Seafood Festival Dives
We still have availability for October 2nd and 3rd weekend when the town of Morehead City hosts the annual NC Seafood Festival. The festival features amusement park rides, musical entertainment, sporting events, fireworks and seafood booths selling fresh seafood prepared just about any way you can imagine it. For divers, it’s pretty much a no brainer. Start the morning off early and hop on one of our Full Day Charters to fabulous dive sites like the U-352 or Papoose then spend the afternoon and evening surrounded by a slice of good ol’ Americana. For inexpensive lodging that is as close to the festival as possible, stay at our dive lodge for only $25 per night. This is one event that you will not want to miss!
September 25th and 26th Special Offer
Whether you are diving a Full Day Charter or a Half Day Charter, we've got a special for you! For the weekend of September 25th and 26th, when booking our Full Day Charter, pay only $250 for you diving and loding in this Olympus Dive Lodge. For 2 days of Half Day Charters, pay only $120 for diving and the lodge! At this rate we'll fill up fast so please contact us today for your spot!
News from the Training Department
Our training department has had an awesome year and we would like to thank everyone who chooses to begin or continue their dive education with Olympus. To that end here's what we have coming up in the next few months;
Online Photography Courses Offered through Olympus Dive Center
If you always wanted to take an underwater photo course but had trouble with scheduling and finding the time, professional photographer and captain of the Midnight Express, Mike Gerken is now offering U/W photo courses live online with the use of web cams and the internet. You can now receive instruction from Mike from the convenience of your own home on a flexible schedule. All you need is a web cam for your computer, internet access and a FREE Skype or AIM account and away you go. Contact Olympus or Mike at 808-214-8843 or email him at mike@evolutionunderwater.com for more details. Check out some of Mike's latest images from North Carolina for 2010 on his website.
Halloween Weekend Technical Diving Trip! 
Our Halloween Tech weekend is shaping up so if you are interested in exploring some of the deeper wrecks we have off the coast and you are Deco certified or higher, please call and sign up for our technical charters. We have 6 spots left. Depth range 150-180, with two dives per day on the same site. Jon will be offering TDI Ext. Range that weekend for those looking to continue their Tech education.
Road Tripin’ with Jon is Back!
We have 2 spots left for our annual St. Lawrence seaway wreck trip. Oct. 7-12. While on this trip you could participate in TDI Deco or Ext. Range training. Please contact Jon if you are interested.
Truk Lagoon Trip in February – 1 Space Remaining
Want to experience wreck diving at a whole other level? Truk Lagoon offers undoubtedly the best wreck diving in the world and we’re taking you there in February 2011. We have one space remaining on Captain Bobby Purifoy’s trip and it’s sure to fill up fast. For more information, follow this link or give Nema a call at 252-726-9432!
Check our Online Availability
With all this going on, you may wonder what we are doing on the dates that we did not talk about here. We’re definitely diving every weekend and are available for bookings all week days. Our availability is up to date, so please give us a call to book your space!
e-Shop Special
For the month of September, we our offering our Red Heavy Weight Hooded Sweatshirt for the low price of $30 including shipping! Get your order in today while supplied last! We’ll also be introducing a new hooded sweatshirt in the coming week so make sure you check our e-Shop for updates!
We hope that you had a fantastic Labor Day Holiday and we’ll be seeing you soon!
Until Next Time!
- The Staff and Crew of Olympus Dive Center |
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| | Sunday, August 29, 2010 - Happening This Week At Olympus Dive Center |
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Greetings from Olympus Dive Center
The diving in August has been some of the best yet and we're still going strong! We would like to thank all of the divers who came out diving this past weekend, including groups from Waterworld Dive Center, Ocean Explorers and The Scuba Center of Richmond. All of you were a blast to be around, as usual!This has been one of our best years ever for our Training Department and we're still going strong with all levels of certifications. If there is a course that you are interested in taking but it is not on the list, please give us a call and we will be happy to design a training program based on your needs. Upcoming classes:
Visibility has been ranging from 50-80 feet both inshore and offshore and bottom temperature is still running between 75 and 78 degrees! We've seen LOTS of sand tiger sharks, a few sand bars, lots of southern sting rays, queen angels, octupus, spade fish and bait fish galore! We've even had some dolphins following us around!
Coming up this week:
- Tuesday, August 31 - Full Day Charter
- Friday, September 3 - Full Day and 2 Tank Inshore Charter
- Saturday and Sunday - Labor Day Weekend - A few spaces remaining for Full Day Charters - space available on Half Day Charters
- Monday, September 6 - Full Day Charter
We have availability on most Full Day Charters after this weekend!
Don't forget, we also have a technical charter coming up on October 30 & 31 for decompression certified divers.
Upcoming Dive Training
Until Next Time!
- The Staff and Crew of Olympus Dive Center |
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| | Thursday, August 19, 2010 - Mid-August Newsletter from Olympus Dive Center |
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Greetings from Olympus Dive Center
Wow, in the blink of an eye we are half way through August! Summer 2010 has been a blast so far, thank you to everyone who has been out diving with us so far this year! Conditions have been spectacular with bottom temperature consistantly being in the high 70's and with clear blue water!
Coming Up at Olympus
In addition to our Full Day Charters everyday and Half Day Charters on weekends, we also have the following available:
- Half Day Charters this Tuesday and Wednesday - August 17 & 18
- Spar Night Dive - September 8
- Indra Night Dive - September 10, 22
- 2-Tank Inshore Charter - August 17, September 3, 10 and 24
- Extended Day Charter to Proteus - September 17
- Technical Charter - September 4, 5 and October 30, 31
What's Going on in October?
As you have read above, we have charters scheduled through the month of September. You may be wondering if we are still running charters in October and beyond. The answer is absolutely YES, we are running charters in October and beyond into the fall. Currently we have Full Day Charters booked with availability on every weekend in October and some Friday's. We are available to run every day in October and beyond. The water temperature is typically still in the mid 70's in the month of October and all you need to do to take advantage of this is give us a call to book your charter! Full Day Charters, 2 Tank Inshore Charters, Half Day's, Night Dives..... we are here to assist you!
From the Training Department
This has been one of our best years ever for our Training Department and we're still going strong with all levels of certifications. If there is a course that you are interested in taking but it is not on the list, please give us a call and we will be happy to design a training program based on your needs. Upcoming classes:
Until Next Time!
- The Staff and Crew of Olympus Dive Center |
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| | Monday, July 19, 2010 - Mid-July Newsletter from Olympus Dive Center |
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Greetings from Olympus Dive Center
Full Day Charter Availability
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| Almost Sold Out |
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The dog days of summer have arrived and have brought with it clear, blue, 80 degree water. As always, it has been a pleasure to see so many familiar faces and welcome new friends to North Carolina diving.
If you are familiar with the diving here in Morhead City, then you know that we typically run our Full Day Charters 7 days a week with Half Day Charters on weekend days and some week days. Our approximate availability can be found on our home page and also on this newsletter and to book, all you need to do is give us a call between the hours of 6am and 8pm.
When we have the opportunity, we like to offer specialty dives like our Spar Night Dives and we typically offer these once a month and have them listed on our calendar.
If you have contacted us recently about availability for July, you have learned that our boats are pretty full for the remaining weeks. Although this is something that we like, it does make it harder for you to chose your dates. With this, we would like to offer our assistance.
The month of August is a great time to dive off the coast of North Carolina. The conditions are the same as July and the water is traditionally a tad bit warmer. As an added bonus, most people traditionall take their vacations in July so in August, the boats have fewer people on them and local hotels traditionally offer lower rates for your stay. For discounted August hotel rates, please call the Sheraton Atlantic Beach and ask for their DIVE rate.
Coming this week:
Full Day Charters: Every Day
Half Day Charters: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Photo Workshop with Mike Gerken This Friday
Professional photographer and Olympus's very own captain of the "Midnight Express", Mike Gerken, is offering an UW photography workshop on "How to Shoot Wrecks". For three hours Mike will share some of his best kept secrets of wreck photography he has collected over the years shooting in such places as Truk Lagoon, the SS President Coolidge in Vanuatu and of course North Carolina, the wreck diving capital of America. The course will cover everything from equipment requirements, dive skills, basic camera functions, lighting, research and the mind set needed to get "The Shot". Visit Mike's website, Evolution Underwater, to see a collection of his work.
Date: July 23, 2010
Time: 5-8PM (with 15 minute break)
Fee: $55
Location: Olympus Dive Center, Morehead City, NC
The workshop is open to all levels of photographers. Call for more information and to reserve your seat at 252-726-9432.
Travel:
We currently have spaces remaining for our annual St. Lawrence Seaway trip in October. For more information, or to book, please give contact Jon via email or give him a call at 252-726-9432.
We also just had 1 spot re-open for our 2011 Truk Lagoon trip that Bobby is leading. This trip had been full for some time so if you are interested in joining in at this point, please contact Nema via email or give her a call at 252-726-9432 today! This space will not last long!
Until Next Time!
- The Staff and Crew of Olympus Dive Center
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| | Tuesday, June 29, 2010 - June Charter Schedule With Olympus Dive Center |
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Greetings from Olympus Dive Center
June is here at last and the warm gulf stream is settling in to our favorite dive sites! In the past couple of weeks since our last newsletter, we have experienced some outstanding conditions! The Papoose has been ideal with 75 degree water temperature and 70 foot visibility with lots of sand tiger sharks present! Inshore sites like the Indra have been fantastic this year with a consistent 30 foot visibility and a comfortable 73 degree water temperature. We even had the chance to make our first trip to Caribsea on Monday and were greeted by the ever present sand tigers and a really descent 40 foot visibility. Basically what we're trying to say is…the conditions are great and we'd love to have you here to share it with!
Here's your chance…
Full Day Charter Availability
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Availability this Week:
Full Day Charter's on Thursday and Friday
Half Day Charter's on Saturday and Sunday
As of press time, we had 3 spaces remaining for Sunday's Full Day Charter
Availability Next Week (June 14-20):
Full Day Charter's each day
Spar Night Dive on Friday
Half Day Charter's on Saturday and Sunday
As a reminder, we are still running our lodging special from now until July 20th. Book any 2 days of diving and we will cover the cost of your lodging in the Olympus Dive Lodge!
What's Going On After Next Week?
Our online calendar and availability on our homepage are kept as up to date as possible. If you have questions beyond that or if you would like to book, please give us a call at 252-726-9432. We are now open from 6am to 8pm and are eager to assist you.
June Charter Highlights:
Full Day Charter - 7 days a week
Half Day Charter - On most Saturday's and Sunday's as well as week days by request
Spar Night Dive - June 18
Indra Night Dive - June 26
From the Training Department
We had a successful Tech weekend to the Naeco and have several opportunities for Advanced Nitrox and Deco training coming up in June and July. North Carolina offers a great location for technical diving the water is warm, visibility is great and the marine life is popping!
For recreational divers we have a PADI Advanced Open Water June 18-20 and a PADI Open Water June 24-27 with space available. Or take a specialty class in Night Diving on June 18th in conjunction with our Spar night trip.
Now is the time to enroll for July classes as things are filling rapidly. PADI Open Water is scheduled for July 10&11/ 17&18 and July 15-18. Don't forget, we teach PADI and NAUI and we can be very flexible, so even if it's not on the calendar, call and we can make it work!
New to The Online Store!
Stylish and functional Messenger Bag with U-352 embroidered logo! You'll also find 2 new Scuba Pro items - a long sleeve t-shirt and sweatshirt! We're also running a special on the U-352 Crest T-Shirt - select sizes and colors $20.00 from now until June 20th!
Until Next Time!
- The Staff and Crew of Olympus Dive Center
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