UAS 64th Anniversary Dinner

Kamau Sadiki is a board member and lead instructor with Diving With a Purpose (DWP), an international organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of submerged heritage resources. DWP provides education, training, certification, and field experience to adults and youth in the fields of maritime archaeology and ocean conservation. The organization’s special focus is the protection, documentation, and interpretation of African slave trade shipwrecks and the maritime history and culture of African-Americans who formed a core of labor and expertise for America’s maritime enterprises.

Sadiki is featured in the Netflix documentary “Descendant,” which follows the descendants of the slave ship Clotilda, the last slave ship to smuggle African captives into the U.S. more than 50 years after the Atlantic slave trade was abolished, as they try to figure out how to best honor their ancestors. Sadiki participated on the field mission that confirmed Clotilda’s discovery in the Mobile River in Alabama. He has participated in the archeological search, survey, and documentation of five known slave ships: Guerrero in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida; Sao Jose Paquete de Africa off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, Fredericus Quantus and Christianus Quintus in Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica, and Clotilda.

He has also worked on multiple shipwreck sites around Mozambique Island, Mozambique; St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands; Biscayne National Park in South Florida; and in NOAA’s Thunder Bay and Florida Keys national marine sanctuaries.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

You can continue reading the article here.

A member form called “UAS Member Profile” (https://forms.gle/mfKwhnQCS2X1xgKa9).  We are asking UAS members to voluntarily fill out this form, so club leadership can have readily available data on yourself.  This information will be maintained electronically in our Google files and can be updated at any time.

Data stored here will help create talking points or a narrative on individuals diving history, accomplishments, dive community involvement/contributions, volunteer service, dive training, travels, awards, etc.  If there is a need to recognize someone, we have a source to gather some facts for the occasion.  This is information you as members would want to be shared.

Again, you can respond to all, some, or none of the line items in the form.  There is an “additional comments” area as well if you want to share other information.

Link => Black Professional Scuba Divers Talk Up Ocean Careers

Little Understood STEM Profession Opens Doors to Exciting Work

Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology (ACUC) 

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DWP: INTO THE DEPTHS Podcast Recap and Conversation

Wednesdays  8pm EST

Description: When National Geographic Explorer Tara Roberts meets Ken Stewart, the co-founder of Diving With a Purpose (DWP), she’s moved by his nearly 20-year mission to find the Spanish pirate ship Guerrero, which wrecked off the coast of Florida in 1827. Tara decides to train with DWP, learning how to find and map a shipwreck. With the help of poet and fellow Explorer Alyea Pierce, Tara tries to imagine the journey of the captive Africans on the Guerrero and how their spirits might have flown home after they perished at sea.

Featured Guest: UAS Member Jay Haigler

—Join UAS Member Jay V. Haigler, retired electrical engineer, founding board member, and lead instructor at Diving With a Purpose along with Dr. Ayana Omilade Flewellen, co-founder of the Society of Black Archaeologists, and as they dive in search for the sunken Spanish slave ship Guerrero. “Searching for a Slave Ship,” natgeoed.org/ intothedepths

—Maritime archaeologists and advocates learn special techniques for how to conduct their work underwater. To see how they assess and document a sunken slave ship, view the photo set, “How Divers Document Sunken Slave Ships,” found here: natgeoed.org/intothedepths

LINK TO LISTEN TO EPISODE 2 HERE:

Join UAS Member Kamau Sadiki at the History of Diving Museum for his virtual presentation of

‘The Hunt for Sunken Slave Ships’,

February 16th at 7:00 pm Eastern Time.

Pre-registration is required (there is a 100 person limit).

You can pre-registration at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtceGgrzgoH9YEh5Yh6-bostnXH8zrfJjl

 

National Geographic Podcast Featuring:

Dr. Jones and DWP

The wait is over….National Geographic’s Podcast ‘Into The Depths’ is now available!   Enjoy!

EPISODE 1: Trusting

National Geographic Explorer Tara Roberts upends her life—including leaving her job—to join a group of Black scuba divers searching for the wrecks of ships that carried captive Africans to the Americas. The journey will require an uncomfortable reckoning with the traumatic history of the slave trade. Then she learns about legendary diver Dr. Albert José Jones and the underwater memorial he placed at the wreck site of the British ship Henrietta Marie in honor of the Africans who had been trafficked to the West Indies from its cargo hold. As fellow National Geographic Explorer and poet Alyea Pierce gives the captive Africans a voice and speaks their names, Tara realizes there is far more to this history than pain and trauma.

LINK TO LISTEN: http://natgeo.com/intothedepths

Dutch Springs to Remain Open for Scuba Diving

Divers will need to be supervised by an insured dive professional and reservations will be required.

By Melissa Smith January 14, 2022

A diver sticks their head out of the water at Dutch Springs. Olga Torrey

Following public outcry over Trammell Crow Co’s plan to shut the popular Pennsylvania dive destination Dutch Springs, the development company has revised its warehouse development proposal to allow the site’s 50-acre quarry to remain open.

The original proposal only included Trammel’s 600,000 square feet of warehouse spaces. The new proposal, approved by both the Lower Nazareth and Bethlehem township zoning boards late last year, separates the 50-acre quarry lake from the rest of its project. (Due to the site location, one warehouse will be built in Bethlehem Township, and the other will be in Lower Nazareth Township.) The aqua and adventure park within Dutch Springs’s roughly 100 acres are permanently closed for the warehouse development.

Jim Folk of Bethlehem Township’s Atlantis Aquatics scuba shop will run the diving operation in Dutch Springs. Leigh Valley Live reports Folk spoke to the zoning board at the Bethlehem zoning meeting, explaining the benefits the quarry offers divers, like high visibility and training opportunities.

“We just don’t have that in any other lakes around here,” Folk said. “People that come here and train here are very familiar with this lake, which can be very important for training.”

Under the new proposal, training dives still seem possible, but recreational divers who aren’t supported by insured pros may not be able to access the site: Divers must be under the supervision of an insured dive pro. It’s unclear at this time whether the site would require in-water supervision or if surface supervision (which Dutch Springs has historically had) will suffice. Reservations will also be required.

Dutch Springs has been a bedrock of Northeast diving for over 40 years, but owners Stuart and Jane Wells Schooley put the property up for sale in preparation for retirement. The dive community immediately raised concerns upon the August 2021 announcement Trammell Crow had an agreement to purchase the property.

“Terrible news for the future of diving in this area. Gonna be tough for shops to survive and for new divers to be certified,” one diver posted on a ScubaBoard.com message board. Another wrote: “There really isn’t any comparable onshore alternative for quite a distance… It is going to be a real problem for training.”

For many long-time Dutch Springs divers, using the site mainly for training purposes takes away a crucial aspect of visiting: the camaraderie.

“Dutch was a magical place not because of the water or the attractions or the facilities. It was magical because of the community,” a diver with the username doctormike posted on ScubaBoard.com after the December zone board meeting. “You could just randomly drive there (often on a blowout day) and spend the day running into old friends and finding new ones… It was like a local pub.”

Calling all Lionfish Hunters!!!

Divers,

Are you interested in hunting lionfish? I’m putting together teams to register for the lionfish derbies in Florida this year. You’re welcome to form your own team or join other teams. We would need to start planning now. I’ve collected some information for you to plan on your own. I will schedule a zoom in March for the April event.

If you interested…please let me now. I’m creating a list for future mail or groupme distributions. Robert S. Smith robertssmith2003@yahoo.com 240.418.6454

 Lionfish Derbies | Reef Environmental Education Foundation

9th Annual Earth Day Lionfish Derby

Hosted by Sharkey’s Sharkbite GrillKey Largo, FL, April 22-24, 2022

1st Lionfish Event Scheduled

Thursday, April 22 – Captain’s Meeting for registered derby teams

Friday, April 23 – Fishing sunrise to sundown

Saturday, April 24 – Awards ceremony and derby afterparty at Sharkey’s Sharkbite Grill in Key Largo.

This the annual Florida Keys “local” derby, fishing to take place in Monroe County waters only

***I’m not sure I’m attending the second event but I wanted everyone to have the information available.

2nd Lionfish Event Scheduled

Date: 9/8/2022 to 9/11/2022

2022 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & FestivalREEF’s 13th annual event will include two full days of lionfish fishing, followed by a family-friendly festival at picturesque Postcard Inn Resort & Marina. The festival is open to the public and will include lionfish scoring, fillet and dissection demonstrations, lionfish tastings, lionfish games and crafts, raffle prizes, plus booths from environmentally-minded vendors. Chefs will be providing lionfish cooking demonstrations and special dishes and drink special will be available. More details and derby team registration coming soon!


Event ScheduleThursday, Sept. 8 – Captain’s Meeting for registered derby teamsFriday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10 – Fishing sunrise to sundownSunday, Sept. 11 – No fishing; lionfish festival and awards ceremony at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina hosted by Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina Islamorada, FL, September 8-11, 2022

Lionfish Derbies | Reef Environmental Education Foundation

Lionfish Derbies | Reef Environmental Education Foundation

MY TASKS:

  • Timeline
  • Get list of interested participants
  • Suggest available hotels and logging
  • Zoom call
  • Photography & video waivers for website
  • Safety & liability statements
  • Parse teams
  • Register team(s)
  • Send reminders for purchasing airfare

Robert S. Smith

240 418 6454

Underwater Adventure Seeker member Kamau Sadiki will be prominently featured in a documentary film entitled, “Descendant”. The film will premiere at the world renowned ‘Sundance Film Festival’ on this Saturday, January 22nd at 1:30pm EST. This year the festival will be virtual.

The film, produced by Emmy nominated director, Margaret Brown, focuses on the last slave ship, Clotilda’s descendant community in Africatown, Alabama.  Kamau is featured for his work around the community outreach in Africatown and the archaeology survey documentation on shipwreck.

You can purchase tickets to the premier viewing at the following link: https://festival.sundance.org/tickets/#

Go to the ‘Select a Screening’ and click. Type in ‘Descendent’ and purchase your ticket. There will be a second viewing on January 24th.

 

For a full description of the film click the following link:  https://festival.sundance.org/program/#film-info/61ae07d96c1de5317cc80d98

NABS Members,

Please visit the NABS Website Calendar for updates on 2022 Regional Club trips, the NABS Summit, and to help you plan in attending our NABS monthly Safety Tips and other Zoom-based informative sessions or other events, exclusively for our members:

https://nabsdivers.org/upcoming-events/Check out new information shared by the regional clubs (BLOG Posts):

NABS Executive Committee

Pool Openings In the DMV- Time to get Wet!

UAS has been able to secure the H.D. Woodson pool for swimming fitness, skin diving and scuba skills assessments for the 2022 annual checkout requirements.

The pool is available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Please fill out the form here: UAS Swimming Fitness and Checkout Sign-Up FormFilling out the form does not guarantee attendance at your chosen session.

Capacity is limited to 10 people per date. You will receive an email confirmation from the UAS Dive Coordinator email, uasdivecoord@gmail.com the Sunday prior to the first session that week.

H.D. Woodson is located at:

540 55th St NE

Washington, DC 20019

Please check the links below for your area. Rules are constantly changing!

For additional questions, please contact UAS Dive Coordinator Carla Davenport at uasdivecoord@gmail.com.

 

 Bob Williams’ NABS HISTORY CHANNEL

Meeting Recording:

https://nabsdivers.zoom.us/rec/share/Ne6-uLbZTMpYDx0BinlsI2CL0bix1Ae9tTuPvt-_Y2gVVKGHaZsUVC7X0oy92B_j.i1Ku6E74-v6OcMbL

Access Passcode:   *URcum1a

AUGUST

Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Dedication

The Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Dedication ceremony was held on the International Flag Plaza along the St. Clair River in the City of Port Huron, Michigan on August 28th 2021.

Diving With a Purpose (DWP) dedicated a memorial to recognize the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII, trained in the State of Alabama and perished in accidents in the State of Michigan. The dedication/unveiling ceremony culminated three-days of activities. The purpose of this three-day event was to bring national attention to recognize the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.

The activities during the three-day event included: (1) a welcome reception; (2)    museum exhibition; (3) a luncheon; and (4) the memorial dedication/unveiling ceremony.

Port Huron Museum Exhibit

The Tuskegee Airmen project is featured at the Port Huron Museum. This exhibit is open to the public with the objective of educating the community at-large on the accomplishments of Tuskegee Airmen and the pilots that   perished in accidents in the Port Huron, Michigan area.

Memorial Dedication/Unveiling Ceremony

Guests for the dedication/unveiling ceremony will include surviving Tuskegee Airmen and their descendants; the general public and civic community; State (Alabama and Michigan) and local business community; State/local (Alabama and Michigan) politicians; and State/local (Alabama and Michigan) government officials. Invited guests include National politicians and United States Military officials.

The Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Dedication ceremony was held on the International Flag Plaza along the St. Clair River in the City of Port Huron, Michigan on August 28th 2021.

EVENT PICTURES!!!

Yours in Diving

Jay and Vanessa Haigler

SEPTEMBER

UAS TRIPS

Aqua Cat   25 March-1 April 2023

Greetings from the Underwater Adventure Seekers (UAS),

UAS is sponsoring a Live Aboard in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas, aboard the famous Aqua Cat from 25 March-1 April 2023.  Please review the attached flyers for information.  Interested individuals need to make their non-refundable deposits NLT 10 July 2022.  For more details, please contact Carla Davenport, UAS Dive Coordinator at (301) 547-1223.

Please share this announcement with your club’s membership.

If any questions, please let me know.   Thank you.

Kim Walker

President, Underwater Adventure Seekers, Wash, D.C.

PADI Master Instructor,  MI-234690

(301) 789-4712 cell

UAS Aqua Cat Bahamas Trip

March 25 – April 1, 2023

Below is a suggested payment plan, which includes the non-refundable $345.00 deposit. The total cost for the trip will be $3,145 and includes your liveaboard accommodations, dives, and port fees. If you are unable to attend after paying the deposit, it is your responsibility to find someone to take your space.

Note:  If UAS cannot fill boat by 1 April 2022, we will open trip to NABS members.

Airfare is not included in the price/package. Trip insurance is highly recommended. Dive insurance is required for all UAS sponsored trips.

The Vessel

The Aqua Cat was specifically designed with scuba divers and adventure travelers in mind. The floating resort comes complete with luxury accommodations for couples, singles, and groups. Amenities include dive equipment rental, SUPs, kayaks, and plenty of storage space.

  • An experienced multilingual crew

  • Cabins with king, queen and /or twin beds and private baths

  • 900-sq. ft. dive deck with individually assigned dive stations

  • Main salon with dining/living room areas and an alfresco deck

  • Upper deck with sundeck and bar

  • 2 dinghies for diving safety

  • 11 large main deck cabins with king, queen and over-sized twin beds and private baths.

  • Beds, bunks and pulldowns – flexibility for singles

Divers can also enjoy our land excursions and eco adventures as well as relax, read, and sunbathe. Do as much or as little as you like!

All diving is done right from the Aqua Cat

  • The Sea Dog, a 28-foot jet drive boat – perfect for shore excursions and eco adventures

Download (PDF, 263KB)

DIVE SHOP TRIPS

TRIPS HOSTED BY BLUE PLANET SCUBA:

As noted below, these trips all have spots available:

(Links to trips)

Contact the shop for more info and any questions! info@blueplanetdc.com 202-527-9419

Regarding the questions on available dive insurance, below are several companies that offer comprehensive dive coverage:

These are the most popular companies among divers.

 -Dive Assure,   www.diveassure.com

 -Divers Alert Network (DAN),  www.dan.org

 -World NOMADS,  www.worldnomads.com

– Diving Insurance,  www.divinginsurance.com

Please take a few minutes to view these.

At Lake Phoenix, Virginia, UAS Scuba Instructors Cesar Canionero, Jay Haigler, and other assistants certified two Open Water divers on 18-19 Jun 2022.

Congratulations to our new PADI Open Water Scuba Divers:

Jorge Norgron and Samantha Hylton!!!

 

Dan Orr

Safety Issues for the Older Diver

This presentation is a review of the normal aging process and how the normal aging process affects diver safety. This includes a discussion of what every diver should know about recognizing and reducing risks to improve safety and maximize enjoyment for the older diver.

UAS is happy to announce that Dan Orr ( see bio below), as our guest speaker spoke on the subject of “The Aging Diver“.  This presentation is a review of the normal aging process and how the normal aging process affects diver safety. This includes a discussion of what every diver should know about recognizing and reducing risks to improve safety and maximize enjoyment for the older diver.  

Please review the links below of the former President of the Divers Alert Network (DAN)share his thoughts on issues that impact many members of the Underwater Adventure Seekers.  This is an event you don’t want to miss.

https://www.divenewswire.com/time-to-return-to-diving-but-cautiously/

https://www.divenewswire.com/the-normalization-of-deviance-aka-short-cut-mentality/

https://www.divenewswire.com/a-crisis-lurking-below-the-surface-emergency-hyperbaric-treatment-availability/

https://www.divenewswire.com/covid-19-local-diving-and-the-older-diver/

https://www.divenewswire.com/returning-to-dive-travel-be-prepared-part-1/

https://www.divenewswire.com/getting-prepared-to-get-back-to-diving-part-2/

https://www.divenewswire.com/new-ebook-by-dan-and-betty-orr-101-tips-for-recreational-scuba-divers-now-available/

Brief Bio: Dan Orr

Dan Orr is President of Dan Orr Consulting providing a variety of services to the diving community. Retired from the position of President of Divers Alert Network (DAN) and Chairman of the Board of International DAN, he helped DAN focus on its worldwide diving safety mission.

He has published and co-authored over 200 articles and a dozen books and manuals including:  101 Tips for Recreational Divers (eBook), Scuba Diving Safety, Pocket Guide to First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries; Pocket Guide for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries; and the DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Training Manual.

He has been the recipient of many prestigious awards and honors including the NOGI Award in Sports/Education, the Leonard Greenstone Award for Diving Safety, the Our World-Underwater Award, Beneath the Sea’s Diver of the Year, the Wyland Foundation ICON Award for Lifetime Achievement, the NAUI Lifetime Achievement Award and Hall of Honor, the Hall of Fame for Divers with Disabilities, the DEMA Reaching Out Award and Dan is an Inductee into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.

Open Water Class

UAS Members, 

The open water class is about to start. We are having a virtual orientation session tomorrow evening. Please send out the message below informing them about the class and virtual session this evening. 

We hope that you and your families have kept healthy and safe.

This announcement has been delayed because of the availability of swimming pool facilities in the Washington, DC area.

Please excuse the length of this email. We feel that it is important to provide comprehensive information on our training.

Due to UAS COVID-19 protocols, the maximum number of students accepted for the scuba dive training is 10 students. Acceptance is based upon payment for the training ($550.00) on a ‘first come, first service’ basis.

A virtual orientation session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 9th from 7:00 – 8:00 pm EST. The virtual orientation session is your opportunity to ask questions about the training and to help you determine your willingness to commit to the course.

Please complete the class registration form to attend the orientation session and to register for the course. Payment is not a requirement for registration.

The link to the UAS Open Water Class registration form is: https://forms.gle/fuo15UyCTSqL3k3K9

The Zoom Link is as follows:

Topic: Zoom Meeting – UAS Open Water Class – Virtual Orientation Session

Time: Wednesday – Mar 9, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86035749325?pwd=WVIvdyt6YWVYbWVvZXJicGgyMU9HQT09

Meeting ID: 860 3574 9325

Passcode: 979444

 

Dial-in number:        (301) 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

       

Meeting ID: 860 3574 9325

Passcode: 979444

Training (Scuba Diving Course)

Open Water Scuba Diver Certification Classes run for 15 weeks. (March 15th – June 12th)

The open water diving course consists of weekly 2-hour virtual classroom sessions followed by twice weekly pool sessions, leading to 2-days of open water certification dives.

  •    ON-LINE LEARNING, you will learn about the concept, regulations, and safety aspects of scuba diving.
  •    IN THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM, your on-line learning will be reinforced by virtual classes. You will have an  opportunity to ask questions about concepts, regulations, and safety aspects of scuba diving.
  •    IN THE POOL, you will learn and practice swimming, snorkeling and diving skills, and will be amazed at how easy and safe it is to scuba dive, and have hands-on training with scuba equipment.
  •    IN THE OPEN WATER, you and your instructor will go over the skills you developed in the pool. This phase is typically completed during a weekend.

After successfully completing the last open water dive, you will be awarded your PADI certification card good for a lifetime of diving fun and enjoyment. This card will be recognized around the world as a certification that you are a properly trained scuba diver.

Attached, please find a detailed description of the certification process entitled, ‘How to become a scuba diver’.

Cost of Training

The cost of training is $550.00.

The price includes the cost of books, materials, and pool rental time.

Please be prepared to pay the fee for the training course on the first day of class (March 15th).

Payment options:

●       Zelle payment to UASTreasurer@gmail.com

●      Mail payment to: Underwater Adventure Seekers c/o Rene Sterling, 6801 Oak Hall Lane # 272, Columbia, MD 21045. Checks or Money Orders can be made out to: The Underwater Adventure Seekers (UAS)

The cost of training DOES NOT INCLUDE the cost of personal scuba diving equipment.

You must purchase personal scuba equipment. This is essentially masks, fins, boots, snorkel. You must get fitted for this equipment. We have arranged with a local dive shop for the class to get a discount on the cost of the equipment.

The discounted cost for the equipment typically ranges between $300.00 and $425.00 (The retail price for this equipment ranges from $375 – $550).

Also, we will designate a Saturday for the class to go to a local dive shop, get fitted and purchase your scuba equipment. The dates will be determined after the class training begins.

The open water certification dives (the final portion of your training) will occur in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (June 8th – 12th). Upon certification, you will do your first dives, as scuba divers, in the Atlantic Ocean in Florida.

The cost of your open water certification dives is NOT included in the cost of training.

EXCLUDING AIRFARE, MEALS, GROUND TRANSPORTATION, and GRATUITIES, the estimated cost of the certification dives is $625.00. This cost includes diving and lodging.

Training Schedule

Virtual Classroom Training Sessions

The virtual classroom training will start on March 15th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. The class sessions will be every Tuesday evening. The virtual classroom training sessions will end on April 5th.

UAS uses the Zoom platform for virtual class training

Swimming Pool Training Sessions

Pool training will be twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on April 12th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

It is important that you have basic swimming skills for you to be successful with the training. You do not have to be an Olympic swimmer; however, you need to be comfortable in the water and have basic swimming skills.

The pool sessions will be held on the campus of Bowie State University. The campus is located at:

14000 Jericho Park Road

Bowie, Maryland 20715-9465

MEDICAL CLEARANCE TO SCUBA DIVE

One of the requirements of the course is that you have a complete medical physical examination and get written clearance from your physician. 

To avoid any conflicts of interests, we request that the medical physician signing the clearance form, be a non-family member. 

Your physician is to complete the attached Medical Statement from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

You will become certified under PADI, an international scuba diving certification agency.

The PADI Medical Statement form will be included with your on-line learning registration. 

Please complete the sections, “Divers Medical Questionnaire” and “Student”.  

You must have your medical form completed “BEFORE” you can put on scuba diving equipment in the pool.

YOUR COMPLETED MEDICAL CLEARANCE FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED TO US AT THE FIRST POOL SESSION ON APRIL 12TH.

If you have any questions about the information provided above, please feel free to contact Jay Haigler at JVista@aol.com

Feel free to share this information with anyone that you know is interested in learning how to scuba dive.

Please confirm receipt of this e-mail by sending a return message to jvista@aol.com

Again, thank you for your interest in the sport of scuba diving, your time and attention in this matter.

Regards,

Dr. Albert José Jones, Master Instructor and Founder of the Underwater Adventure Seekers

Jay V. Haigler, UAS Scuba Diving Instructor

Vanessa F. Haigler, UAS Scuba Diving Instructor

Kim M. Walker, UAS Scuba Diving Instructor

Alex Colvin, II, UAS Scuba Diving Instructor

Addeliar D. Guy, UAS Scuba Diving Instructor

Terron Whitehead, UAS Scuba Diving Instructor

NABS Members,NABS quarterly newsletter is out. Click or paste the link to get the lastest news. Feel free to direct individuals to our website to view the newsletter www.nabsdivers.org.  Happy reading. If you have some  news you want to share send to socialmedia@nabsdivers.org for the next quarterly newsletter.

Link to Newsletter https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jKLU28kqxgCfXLbbpLbWK9dxFUI5N0ui/view?usp=share_link

Cheers,
Social Media Committee
Jennifer Ford
Social Media Chair
socialmedia@nabsdivers.org
www.nabsdivers.org

The National Association of Black Scuba (NABS) divers has clubs in four regions within the United States, the western region, the mid-west region, the southern region, and the northeastern region. Each region is represented by a regional representative; the regional rep is the liaison between the club presidents and the NABS Executive Board. https://nabsdivers.org/

Northeast Regional Clubs

-Underwater Adventure Seekers (UAS) –  Charter Club of Washington, District of Columbia

https://uasdivers.org/trips

-Atlantic Rangers Scuba Club (ATRA) – Charter Club in Philadephia, Pennsylvania

https://atlanticrangerssc.org/2021-atra-club-trip

-Aquatic Voyagers Scuba Club (AVSC) – Charter Club located in New York

http://www.avscdivers.org/trips/

-Charm City Scuba  – Charter Club located in Baltimore, Maryland

https://www.facebook.com/charmcityscuba

Southern Clubs

-Atlanta Underwater Explorers (AUE) –  Charter Club located in Atlanta, Georgia

https://diveaue.org/calendar/

-Southern SeaQuestrians (SSQ) – Charter Club in Atlanta, Georgia

https://ssquest.com/upcoming-trips/

-DIVERSe Orlando – Charter Club located in Orlando, Florida

https://diverse.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=4001&club_id=130944

-Nubian Dive Club – Charter Club located in Houston, Texas

https://nubiandiveclub.org/

-Black Coral Divers (BCD) -Charter Club located in Dallas, Texas

https://blackcoraldivers.org/

Midwest Clubs

Western Clubs

Underwater Adventure Seekers won “NABS Club of the Year for 2022”.

This was a great team effort and UAS was well represented at the summit with over 15 members in attendance.

UAS Founder, Dr. Albert José Jones has received the DEMA Reaching Out Award, International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, and now the NOGI Award.

The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (AUAS) is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the prestigious NOGI Award: Dr. Albert José Jones (Distinguished Service), Dr. John R. Clarke (Science), Jack & Sue Drafahl (Sports/Education), Harry Rabin (Environment) and Adam Ravetch (Arts).

“The NOGI Award is the oldest and most prestigious award in the recreational diving world, recognizing individuals who have made significant career contributions to the sport, the industry and the world in the Arts, the Sciences, the Environment, Sports/Education and through Distinguished Service,” stated Dan Orr, AUAS President.

The AUAS is an international, multi-disciplinary, non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing pioneers and leaders who have had a global impact on the exploration, enjoyment, safety, and preservation of the underwater world. AUAS is committed to supporting its members as they pass on the stewardship of the sea to future generations. The AUAS presents what is called the NOGI Award which is considered to be the Academy Award of scuba diving. The NOGI Award began as as an offshoot of the New Orleans Grand Isle spearfishing tournament in 1960.

The 2022 NOGI Awards will be presented at the annual NOGI Awards Gala Banquet in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 in conjunction with the annual DEMA Show.

NABS 2021 Hall of Fame Inductee!

Kim Walker

  • PADI Master Instructor
  • OW certified in 1997
  • UAS member since 2001
  • 1300+ Logged dives
My favorite Top 3 Dive Sites:
Galapagos
Sipadan, Island
Hawaii

Kim Walker

Greetings All,
I wanted to share the latest information from PADI on this subject.  We know the strategies to fight COVID changes regularly and we as dive professionals must adapt and modify how we teach and perform our responsibilities.  So, take a few minutes to review the recommendations in the attachments.
There will be more emphasis on pushing safety throughout 2022.   From COVID-19, to dive training & education, we will be reminding club membership to remain vigilant when it comes to safety and water related activities.  These are challenging times and we will stay on top of this matter with your support and participation.  I’m looking forward to a safe, productive, and exciting year in 2022.  Hope you are as well…
If any questions, please contact me.  Thank you.
Kim Walker, UAS President

Dr. Albert Jose Jones

Commemorative Coin Now Available

For the first time, the Underwater Adventure Seekers (UAS) has designed and produced a special coin that honors and commemorates the life and achievements of our illustrious founder, Dr. A. Jose Jones

Dr. Jones’ many lifetime achievements: 

  • Underwater Adventure Seeker, Dive club Founder
  • PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, 1970
  • CMAS Two-star instructor, 1977
  • 7th Degree Black Belt, Tae-Kwon Do
  • SSI Platinum 5000 Dives, 1995
  • NABS Co-Founder, 1991 and NABS Hall of Fame, 2004
  • DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year, 2005
  • Beneath the Sea Diver of the Year, 2009
  • International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Inductee, 2015
  • Purple Heart Medal Recipient
  • Sport Diver Magazine Diver of the Year, 2008

Academia 

  • Dean, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Provost at the University of the District of Columbia
  • Professor Emeritus of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia
  • Fulbright Scholar, Marine Biology, University of Queensland, Australia
  • PhD, Marine Biology, Georgetown University

UAS Coins

 

Dear UAS Members and Friends
The Dr. José Jones Commemorative Coin is now available for purchase.  This special coin is available for only $25.00 each. In addition to the Dr. Jones coin, we also have available UAS 50th Anniversary Coins for only $10.00 each.  If you completed a pre-order Google form early last year, you will need to update your order following the instructions below.  We welcome coin orders from UAS members and friends of UAS, so please feel free to forward this email to others who may be interested.
Order Form
To place or confirm your commemorative coin order, please request and complete the excel form and email it to the UAS Treasurer, Rene Sterling, at UASTreasurer@gmail.com.  On this form, you will provide your contact information (including mailing address), indicate your preferred mode of payment, and confirm the number and types of coins (Dr. Jones or 50th Anniversary) you would like to order.
We are considering placing an order for UAS 60th Anniversary Coins, which are currently not available. If enough people are interested, an order could be cost effective. Please use the bottom of the form (Section III) to indicate whether you would be interested in obtaining a 60th Anniversary Coin.

 

Methods of Payment
Currently, three payment options are available for purchasing coins:
  1. Send an electronic payment using Zelle (https://www.zellepay.com) to UASTreasurer@gmail.com. This email address is tied to the UAS checking account and is the preferred method of payment.
  2. Deposit money into the UAS account at any Bank of America using checking account # 0020 8634 0510.
    • When depositing your payment at Bank of America, please use a check or money order and please ensure your name and the number of coins you ordered appears on the document (e.g., “Jane Doe – 5 coins”)
  3. Send a check or money order via postal mail to:

Underwater Adventure Seekers
c/o Rene Sterling
6801 Oak Hall Lane # 272
Columbia, MD 21045

Timeline
We will sell and distribute coins during future in-person UAS Club Meetings. We can also mail coins to you at no additional charge (for this option, please be sure to include your mailing address on the order form).
Questions
Please feel free to contact us with any questions, as follows:
  • For questions about coin features and logistic issues, please send an email to UAS Member Arthur Miller at millera_007@hotmail.com
  • For questions about coin payment or financial issues, please send an email to UAS Treasurer Rene Sterling at UASTreasurer@gmail.com
Sincerely
Arthur and Rene

 

Watch “Fire & EMS Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe Celebration of Life Recap” on YouTube

https://youtu.be/qHLwaAE6Mus

I want to thank Andrea Williams and Debbie Peterson representing NABS at his homecoming service.   Also, a deep appreciation to Andrea for providing remarks from NABS at Ken’s repast.

Best regards,

Kim Walker

President, Underwater Adventure Seekers (UAS)

Welcome to Underwater Adventure Seekers

The Underwater Adventure Seekers (UAS) dive club is a first class organization of recreational and scientific divers dedicated to the principle of safe diving, physical fitness, community service, and environmental conservation.