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DIVE BUS BULLETIN: Fall/Winter 09 (+ Spring 10?!) 
YEEE HAAAAAAAAA! Mark and Jim heli-diving! Photo by Barry Brown
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Yes, yes,we know, we know, this latest Bulletin has been too long in coming - as usual. But there are some exciting changes coming up ahead which should fix our little, perpetual challenge regarding the number of hours available in a day. In fact, with any luck (!) this will be the last Bulletin you'll receive - like this, anyway. (More in the Bulletin below.) So, since the last Bulletin, we've been busy working our booties off - especially over the Thanksgiving holiday, but Mark did manage to find some spare time, however, to model for Dive Bus buddy and ace underwater photographer, Barry Brown! Barry's amazing photos are featured in the current (Nov/Dec) issue of Scuba Diving magazine - see more below. We also managed a few other things in between Mark's modelling assignments, including welcoming a new Dive Bus Crew member, Camilla. Read on to find out... bet you can hardly wait .... ;o)
 Happy Holidays!!  | Go here for photos from last year's Christmas Dive and here for video. |
So the holiday season is fast approaching - how the heck did that happen?? - and The Dive Bus Crew are feeling all festive... Silly festive headwear, a fun dive, 'Ho Ho Ho' Punch and the Ridiculous Pressie game... it could only be the Dive Bus Christmas Dive and you're all invited :o) It's taking place on Sunday 20 December at The Dive Bus Hut, followed by a Christmas night dive on Monday 21 December which we've never tried before... Go here for more info. Spaces will be limited as usual, so please book in advance! PLEASE NOTE: go here for opening hours and days over the Holiday Period 2009.
Perfect holiday gift solutions - in a couple of clicks! 1. The Gift of Diving YOU love diving (or else you wouldn't be reading this) so why not give the very best gift of all this holiday season - the gift of diving, with a PADI eLearning Pass. Using the PADI online eLearning program, you can learn all the knowledge development classes for PADI Open Water, PAID Advanced Open Water and PADI Enriched Air Nitrox, leaving more time available to dive, dive, DIVE whilst on vacation :o)Go here for more information and see more later in this Bulletin.
2. Funky Dive Bus stuff!!!Wall clocks, fridge magnets, mugs, bags, underwear, hoodies, tanks, tee's, teddy bear - even stuff for the dog. There's something fun for everyone in The Dive Bus online store, all featuring the almost-world-famous Dive Bus fish. Order online here. ;o)
2009 - WHAT a year for The Dive Bus! 2009 marks The Dive Bus's 5th birthday - and this year, in spite of the world's financial situation, has been our best EVER. We've had a huge increase in the number of divers joining us from the cruise ships, LOADS of retuning divers and HEAPS of new ones. We've taught tons of PADI dive courses and have introduced over 100 folks to the underwater world on Discover Scuba Dives. And we ran our first ever 'overseas' Dive Bus trip to Bonaire which was tremendous fun. What a year! Believe us, we know that this is largely thanks to you good folks for supporting us, recommending us, posting reviews about us, telling your local diver shops and family and friends about us - and of course, returning to dive with us. THANK YOU! There's loads of stuff coming up at The Dive Bus in 2010 too - read on for more details, and start planning your next dive vacation in sunny Curacao :o)
A dive vacation in Curacao may be cheaper than you think...
...and the diving's great, the sun's always shining and the beer is cheaper than home! Here are a bunch of ways to save money on your next dive vacation with The Dive Bus:
Take the PADI Master Scuba Diver Challenge with The Dive Bus!
Keep your diving FUN by experiencing new and exciting dive adventures - every time you dive. And along the way, you may even earn yourself PADI's highest Scuba Diving rating: Master Scuba Diver and join The Dive Bus Hall of Fame... Go here for more info.
Congratulations to Guido and Jim who recently joined the Hall of Fame - go here for more info.
Save on PADI Specialty of the month courses with The Dive Bus
You don't have to go for PADI Master Scuba Diver all in one go, just take it one Specialty at a time... Take the Specialty of the month with The Dive Bus and save $$$s :o)
Go here for more info.
Bob Bodnar and his family returning to The Dive Bus for the3rd year running!
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Book in advance and save! The Dive Bus discounts and packages only apply to pre-bookings so if you're planning on coming down to see us, get your reservation form to us right away! The earlier you book and the more you dive, the more you save (seems only fair to us) so come on down and dive your boots off :o)
Go here for more info.
Save hundreds of $$$s on dive equipment :o)
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Savings on dive equipment Don't forget: take a PADI dive course with The Dive Bus and you'll save up to 20% off any dive equipment you buy from us. Bargain :o) PLUS all The Dive Bus rental BCDs and regs are available to buy at massive savings off RRP, and all less than 12 months old, fully serviced and in great condition. Go here for more info about The Great Dive Bus Gear Sale.
PADI Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air Nitrox now available as eLearning programs...
The popular PADI Open Water eLearning program, where you can study the Knowledge Development part of the course wherever you like, whenever you like, via the online study program, has now been extended to include PADI Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty. The Dive Bus has just had our first PADI Advanced Open Water eLearning students complete the course, and we've got divers planning on taking the new PADI Enriched Air Nitrox eLearning course too. This is a great way to save time (and money) on your vacation freeing you up to dive, dive, DIVE! And you can also gift a PADI eLearning course with an eLearning Access Pass - perfect for birthdays, holidays and special occasions. What could make a more perfect and more memorable gift...? Go here for more info.... 
New Year, new lifestyle...? Many of you on vacation in Curacao dream about staying on as a dive bum like the Dive Bus Crew. It would be an ideal life, you're sure you could handle it and you know it would suit you down to the sand ground... But not long after you're back home, reality kicks in, work takes over, the memories start fading and you start planning for next year's vacation instead. Want to change all that? The Dive Bus PADI Divemaster Internship program could be the first small step towards starting your adventure... Depending on your current level of certification, you could be a professional diver in as little as 4 weeks! That's 4 weeks of learning, diving, doing and practising on real (and pretend!) divers, here in sunny Curacao with the Dive Bus Crew. And after that, who knows where your dream could take you...? Your own dive shop maybe??
It costs nothing to dream so why not go here to check it out... and who knows, you might be HERE as one of the Dive Bus Crew....! The Dive Bus Does Bonaire 2010 
Team Dive Bus Bonaire 09
in action...
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Team Dive Bus Bonaire 09
- official photo!
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We had the most AWESOME time on the very first overseas Dive Bus trip to Bonaire earlier this year (go here for the story, photos etc.) and began planning our return trip in May 2010 as soon as we got back. The May 2010 trip sold out almost immediately, and so in response to requests from you guys, we're planning a 2nd trip in September or October2010. Initial details below: - 6 buddy pairs only, up for some fun diving and who can drive a stick shift (seriously!)
- Priority is given to previous Dive Bus divers
- Price will be approximately (not yet confirmed) $1,700 per person based on 2 people sharing a one-bed studio, including:
Interested? Let us know and we'll add you to the list :o) Go here to check out other Special Events and here for The Dive Bus Calendar.
EXTREMELY well camoflauged frog fish at Pierbaai Reef. Photo taken by Barry Brown .
Brain coral just about to release eggs... Photo by Barry Brown
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Coral Spawning in Curacao Due to stronger currents bringing healthy nutrients from mid August onwards, Pierbaai Reef was absolutely swarming with marine life activity thoughout August, September and October. Tarpon, turtles, rays and even frog fish abounded, as it were - check out the photo of this amazing spot by one of our cruise ship divers. Full points for spotting that one! This photo, taken by great Dive Bus buddy and awesome photographer, Barry Brown , will be appearing in a dive magazine near you soon, so keep a look out for it... The September coral spawning took place over several nights, with no reports of 'the big night', so plenty to see for all our night divers lookin' for action on the reef. The October coral spawning was a much quieter event so Mark and Suzy took the opportunity to shut up shop for a few days and take a VACATION!!!! (You guys are right - they are fun :o) ) Dates for 2010 coral spawning in Curacao (August, September + October) on The Dive Bus Calendar.
Fun on Single Divers week! So Single Divers weeks didn't really go according to plan since they must the only weeks we haven't had any single divers for the entire year. However, we just happened to have some TREMENDOUSLY fun folks diving with us those weeks - you know who you are guys - and had an awesome time! We'll still be arranging these fun weeks in June and November 2010 (check out The Dive Bus Calendar) but if you'd prefer other dates or would like to set up your own Single Divers group, don't hesitate to let us know.
Calling all Dive Group Leaders! 2010 is filling up already (see below for what's coming up and when) what with lots of pre-bookings and several dive groups looking to dive with The Dive Bus. Pre-bookings and dive groups take priority in our diving schedule, of course which means limited availability on certain dates during 2010. So please check out The Dive Bus Calendar for availability - and to see what special events are going on when. And if you'd like to bring a dive group down for a week of fun at The Dive Bus - or your local dive shop might be interested - go here for more info and start your planning :o) 2010 is gonna be FUN!!! 
Dive Bus divers clean up for International Clean Up Day 2009 A HUGE thanks to all the volunteer divers who turned up at The Dive Bus Hut on Sunday 20 September, to clean up Pierbaai Reef for the Project AWARE International Clean Up Day. This was The Dive Bus's 5th Project AWARE clean up so a bit of a milestone for us! Volunteers included Dive Bus local divers, MSV divers and even some good folk out here on vacation and wanting to play a part in keeping the oceans healthy. As usual, there are loads of photos - go here to check them out and here for more info about the day itself. How you can play your part: For more information about Project AWARE conservation acitivies and how you can get involved, visit www.projectaware.org. Or contact us for more information on becoming an AWARE diver, including coral reef conservation and reef monitoring Think about carrying a small mesh bag in your BCD pocket so you can make every dive a clean up dive... :o)
Many thanks again folks, see you in April 2010 for Dive Into Earth Day Clean Up :o)
Also coming up in 2010... These fun events are all already on The Dive Bus Calendar. Keep your eyes open for more details about them to help you plan your next dive vacation in Curacao: - Easter Dive - April
- Dive Into Earth Clean Up Day - April
- Curacao Dive Festival: May
- Single Divers Weeks: June
- International Clean Up Day: September
- Coral Spawning: August, September and October
- The Dive Bus Birthday Dive: November
- Single Divers Weeks: November
- Christmas Dive: December
Don't say you weren't invited... ;o)
The Dive Bus Bulletins / new website coming soon... 
The original Dive Bus website and home page...
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Much as we enjoy writing these Bulletins, you may have noticed that they are becoming less and less frequent. (It's actually YOUR fault for keeping us busy, busy busy and we simply don't have the time to write them as often as we'd like.) Which is why we're in the process of updating our website, which, amongst other things, will include new facilities for you to receive Dive Bus updates on a regular basis instead of waiting 6 months for the next Bulletin. Full details of the features of the new website and how to get the most out of it will follow as it goes live. In the meantime:
Mark all geared up and on his way...
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Jim on the left, Mark on the right, making their 'descent'!
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The Dive Bus Curacao stars in Scuba Diving magazine! Thanks to good buddy and awesome photographer, Barry Brown , the Dive Bus's very own Mark and Dive Bus diver, Jim Jorgenson, are now famous models! Well almost... Check out the Nov/Dec 09 issue of Scuba Diving magazine for Barry's photos of Jim and Mark doing the highly awesome heli-dive, and Mark posing all around Curacao's signature wreck site, the Superior Producer. (5 points if you recognise the photographer in the other photo...) Mark will be available for signings at 5pm at The Dive Bus Hut until further notice - as long as you buy him a beer - so go out and get your copy NOW! MANY thanks once again to Barry Brown . Click here to check out his awesome collection of photos, also available to buy. And click here to see the amateurs' photos...
A BIG Dive Bus welcome to Camilla! Yet another fellow Brit, Camilla joined The Dive Bus Crew at the end of October to help out during high season here in Curacao. The girl is absolutely nuts (so fits in very well) and already a great asset to the team. A dive instructor too, she's already certified some divers, and earned hearty thanks from another who swears he would have given up diving if it wasn't for her. And Mark's shown her how to use power tools... oh-oh... Great job Camilla and welcome :o)
Dive Bus Graduates now on facebook :o) If you've ever taken a PADI dive course with The Dive Bus, you're a Dive Bus Graduate and are now starring in your own photo galleries on The Dive Bus facebook page here and here. There's also a very special new photo gallery, exclusively for divers who've earned their PADI Master Scuba Diving rating with The Dive Bus - check it out here or go here to find out more about taking the PADI Master Scuba Diving Challenge yourself. Have fun tagging your photo!
Beautiful, dangerous and unwanted here... just like your ex?
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Lionfish finally arrive in Curacao and Bonaire :o( It's a shame that such beautiful creatures are so dangerous to the entire eco system beyond their natural home, in the Pacific Ocean. Mark found the 2nd 'officially found' lionfish in in early November at Porto Mari. Dive Bus diver, Jack Wesolek, took this beautiful photo... Please take a minute to find out more about these creatures, why they're so dangerous and what to do if you should see one in Curacao.
NEW: Scuba Connect Program NEW from PADI: if you took a Discover Scuba Dive with The Dive Bus and would have absolutely LOVED to go on and get certified but just didn't have enough time this vacation, the new PADI Scuba Connect program is the perfect solution. Go here for more info and maybe treat someone you care about to a very special gift this holiday season...?
The Dive Bus Hut gets its annual overhaul... It's amazing how dusty and dirty a little Hut can get if it's positioned right in the middle of a sandy beach and a dirt parking lot... And it's amazing how quickly everything rusts and fades with the humidity and tremendous heat of the Caribbean sun. So whether it needs it or not (!), The Dive Bus Hut gets a painting and a good overhaul every year in time for high season. This year's overhaul is still continuing and involves a large number of power tools. Surprisingly there has been loss of limbs (so far, touch wood) but you'd better notice and appreciate the differences next time you're here or else....
Photo courtesy of Tracy Fox who clearly has nothing better to do with her time... We get that.
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The Dive Bus 5th Birthday Disco dive Due to bad planning on Suzy's part, this year's Dive Bus Birthday Dive didn't actually happen, due to the fact that it happened to clash with not 1 but 2 major drinking sporting events namely the Heinken Regatta and the Amstel Road Cycle race. DOH! Nevertheless, Mark and Suzy had tremendous fun planning this dive and attempting to learn how to do the Hustle line dance from the movie Saturday Night Fever. The Disco Dive will happen another time (it will) so stay tuned and watch this space... And in the meantime, check out our ridiculous attempts at disco dancing here. (John Travolta clearly has nothing to fear from the Funky Pinnells.)
And finally... - A MASSIVE thanks to all of you for diving with The Dive Bus and for recommending us to your friends, families and even complete strangers sometimes, whether it's through word of mouth, online dive and travel forums or simply by sending us an email for the Dive Bus Guestbook. We really appreciate it :o)
- A particularly MASSIVE thanks to the Dive Bussers who return to dive with us in Curacao year after year. We've had LOADS of returners this year - way too many to list and count (but you know who you are!) - and it's always particularly nice for us to see you back again. Hope to see you back again soon :o)
Since we're not likely to have the time to get another Bulletin out before Christmas 2010, let alone this one, we'd like to take this opportunity wish you, your friends and family all the VERY best for a wonderful Holiday Season and a terrific, healthy and happy 2010. (But does anyone know where 2009 went to???) All the very best from sunny Curacao :o)
Mark, Suzy & Camilla
The Dive Bus, Curacao
December 09 Go here to view previous Bulletins and News items
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