Newsletter April 2014
In This Newsletter
- Bangkok Patana International School Fun Day 1st March
- Whale sharks on the Liveaboard Trip 8th March
- Saturday Social BBQ on 8th March
- PADI Master Scuba Divers certified in 2014
- PADI Divemasters certified in 2014
- PADI Divemasters starting in 2014
- Mermaids receives outstanding service award from PADI.
- Students having fun on St Patricks Day 17th March
- PADI Instructor Examinations 19th March
- Tech Courses
- Testing out fun diving equipment
- Songkran Water Festival April
- We appreciate you = Night Dive on Khram!
- NIST School Clean Up
- DSD Promotion and Diving Courses Promotions
- Equipment Promotions
- What else is happening in April?
Bangkok Patana International School Fun Day 1st March
For the 4th year in a row Mermaids was at the fun day in the 25m swimming pool to do try diving for the BPS students. We had a few Bubblemakers taking part but most of the 56 students that took part were over 12 years old. They all loved being underwater with our Instructors. Thanks to the fabulous Mermaids Team that also had so much fun on the day and we are looking forward to being there again in 2015.
Whale sharks on the Liveaboard Trip 8th March
An amazing Liveaboard trip from start to finish on the MV Scubanet. It began with the prompt collection from Phuket Airport to the boat which itself is very comfortable and well laid out with 10 cabins downstairs and a few on the upper deck.
The upper deck is where it all happens socially, with a great entertainment area and comfortable seating. Cool drinks and snacks are available all day and meals are served here as well, with delicious dishes of chicken, prawns, soups and more.
The first couple of days were spent diving on Similan Islands No 5-9, with first day sightings of a Leopard Shark, White Tip Shark, large shoals of fish and critters. Second day was even better with Giant Morays, Barracudas, Ghost Pipefish and a whole lot more. The water was 28 degrees C and visibility averaging about 30m.
On the 3rd day – Whale Sharks have been spotted!!!! The boat changed the schedule to do 4 dives on Richelieu Rock. Amazing Whale Sharks, at times we felt small but mostly amazed by these graceful Sharks. Some Sea Horses, Frog Fish were spotted but the trip had already been made with the Whale Sharks.
The last day we had sightings of Octopus, Giant Morays and Black Tip Sharks, which was the end to a great day and a great trip. Thanks to the friendly and helpful crew of the MV Scubanet and to all our divers for an amazing trip. Bookings are also open now for the South Andaman tour starting 7th November.
Saturday Social BBQ on 8th March
As always the BBQ’s are great fun with our awesome team of Vlad and Malai heading up the food prep and cooking. Don’t forget to watch our Facebook page www.facebook.com/mermaidsdive as we will post the date there each month.
PADI Master Scuba Divers certified in 2014
Mermaids would like to congratulate the Master Scuba Divers certified already in 2014. Well done Alexa, Rob, Hans, Samuel, Steven, Mikael, Herbert, Allan, Pascal and Hahn. Most are heading on to their Divemaster Course soon or even their IDC. Did you know that this is all it takes to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver?
- 5 PADI Specialties of your choice
- PADI Open Water, Advanced, EFR and Rescue Course
- 50 logged dives
Contact us for special offers on diving or courses that we can provide to help you reach this highest recreational level.
PADI Divemasters certified in 2014
Congratulations to Mermaids certified Divemasters in 2014.
Damien Le Foll, Darren Busse, Pascal Keller, Mikael Baarman, Nathan Roberts, Amelie Iacconi, David Roberts, Carlos Saavedra Franch and Tyler Shannick.
From our fabulous Team Japan – Sakane, Kazuya and Yukika.
PADI Divemasters starting in 2014
Still in progress, we have Daniel O’ Driscoll and Bertrand Godard and starting are Alexa, Rob, Tyler, Sam, Ben and Nadia. Have fun everyone and look forward to welcoming you to the pro levels.
Mermaids receives outstanding service award from PADI.
Accepting the award for over 20 years outstanding services to diving from Giovanni Cacchione, PADI Regional Manager was Sheena Walls, General Manager of Mermaids Dive Center.
Sheena said, “ We are very proud to receive this recognition and will continue to offer our divers exceptional service”
Students having fun on St Patricks Day 17th March
A group of Mermaids students dressed in green and lots of bling headed out in one of our minibuses to explore Pattaya by heading off to the Tiger Zoo, Sanctuary of Truth and Silverlake Vineyard. They all had a great time and were exhausted when they finally got home.
PADI Instructor Examinations 19th March
Congratulations go to Mikael Baarman, Pascal Keller and Tyler Diaz for their outstanding performance on the PADI Instructor Examinations.
Well done all and looking forward to Mikael and Tyler carrying on their education to PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. On this IDC, Josh Childress and Josh O’Neill also received their IDC Staff Instructor Ratings, congratulations to you both.
Tech Courses
We’ve been keeping David busy day after day with Tech and Trimix Courses. Luckily he just had a holiday in Costa Rica, where he also taught his granddaughters their Junior Open Water Courses.
Testing out fun diving equipment
For something different, let us know if you want to try the Aqualung Gorski G20000SS Diving Helmet in the pool. Don’t forget we also have the Full Face Mask Course with communications between divers underwater.
Songkran Water Festival April
Its Songkran this month, don’t forget to stock up on your dry bags from any of the Mermaids Centers. Guaranteed to keep all your valuables safe and dry. Don’t forget the big day in Pattaya is on the 19th and Vlad will be around to cook some burgers and sausages for you right outside Mermaids.
We appreciate you = Night Dive on Khram!
To thank you for being our friends and divers, join us on Friday 25th April for a special trip to the HTMS Khram Shipwreck. 1st dive at 5pm and the second at 7pm. A BBQ dinner cooked by our Crazy Russian Vlad is also included for you on the boat. Book your trip now for only 1,500 baht per person inc equipment if needed.
Minimum certification for this trip is Advanced Open Water Diver. Passengers are also welcome at 500 baht per person. Transport to the pier will leave the center at 3pm. Check our Facebook page for more information. Please note this trip is subject to weather conditions on the day.
NIST School Clean Up
Another Clean up the Reef day for the New International School of Thailand scheduled for the 26th April. Students and Teachers will join us on the boat for the day with the divers cleaning the reef and snorkelers cleaning the beach and shallow reefs of Koh Sak Island. NIST are very pro active in the beach and community clean ups and we are looking forward to seeing you again.
DSD Promotion and Diving Courses Promotions
Want to experience scuba diving for the first time? Do the PADI Discover Scuba Diving in 1 day and use our camera for free to snap your underwater pics to remember your day. 4,000 baht per person and we will transfer your pics for you to take away.
Become a PADI Open Water in 4 days. That’s all it takes and it doesn’t need to be consecutive days either, you can do it over 2 weekends thanks to the Mermaids customer flexibility plan. As a special get wet Songkran offer, the Open Water Course is 13,000 baht per person if booked and paid for in April.
If you want to move on from the Open Water Diver Level and go deep, get wrecked, navigate a dive site and more, then the Advanced Open Water Course is just for you. This course will certify you to dive to 30m. Only 2 days and you will be complete. Book and pay for your course in April and get this for 12,000 baht.
If you want to do both courses, please let us know and we will work out a schedule and a price for you.
Equipment Promotions
Special offers on Halcyon recreational and technical dive equipment. Some great deals with 5 free days of diving added to test, please email Terry for more info and specifications.
We have more stock of the Suunto D4i’s in their new modern color ranges. Lightweight and packed with handy features like freedive mode and optional wireless air integration, it’s got everything you need – wherever your diving may take you. Stocks available in all Mermaids Stores for 22,899 baht.
What else is happening in April?
- The Saturday Social BBQ is on the 5th April, keep this date free
- The Jomtien and Naklua Stores will be closed on the 19th April.
- Emergency First Response Instructor Course
- PADI Instructor Course with Platinum Course Director Russell Martin
- Tech 40 Courses
- Mermaids on stand P3 and 4 at TDEX Dive Show, Queen Sirikit Center on 15th to 18th May.
- IE Examinations with a BBQ on 7th May
- Social BBQ on 24th May
- More promotions and fun happenings at Mermaids
Comments
Post a Comment