No matter what your wishes are for an incredible vacation, the Dominican Republic has something for everyone. Endless white-sand beaches, calm Caribbean seas and a tropical climate are just part of what makes the Dominican Republic an ideal vacation destination. You won’t find a better value for your vacation dollar anywhere in the Caribbean.

NON-STOP flights will run from Denver between June 9th to July 28th, 2012 for Saturday to Saturday departures ONLY.

DIVING:
For some of the best diving in the Dominican Republic, try the Iberostar in La Romanan. With round-trip air from Denver to Punta Cana, enjoy 7 nights, hotel taxes and service charges, round-trip transfers, all meals, beverages and non motorized water sports for $1530.00** per person. Call today 303-789-2450.

**Based on double-occupancy and subject to change until purchased. Diving is offered but not included in price.

Take advantage of some of the great travel specials aboard Princess Cruises:

Saphire Princess: Voyage of the Glaciers (Alaska): Sail between Anchorage & Vancouver
Receive a Balcony Bonus! – Free Balcony Upgrade from an Oceanview:
Sail: June 2, 2012: Oceanview & Balcony $1549
June 16 Oceanview & Balcony $1779
Sept 8 Oceanview & Balcony $1349

Island Pricess: Voyage of the Glaciers
Sail: May 23, 2012 Oceanview & Balcony $1249
Sept 5 Oceanview & Balcony $1449
Sept 19 Oceanview & Balcony $1149

Diamond Pricess: Voyage of the Glaciers
Sail: Aug 18, 2012 Oceanview & Balcony $1774
Sept 8 Oceanview & Balcony $1399

For more great cruise specials and details, contact our Cruise Specialist,
Gwen Wells at 303-789-2450

Proper rinsing of your photo equipment is frequently overlooked. Here are a few important tips; Before opening your housing or strobes, let your system soak in fresh water for a 10-15 minute period. Carefully move the system around “swishing” water to help remove sand and salt. In addition, you should depress the various buttons on your system. Saltwater fills the space around the buttons and various controls. Depress each of these buttons repeatedly and rotate any control knobs, this will “pump” fresh water in and around these areas. Your goal is to remove all traces of salt to prevent corrosion and damage. Besides corrosion, salt crystals are hard and sharp which can permanently damage many surfaces. Following this process, be sure the various components are completely dry and in a clean environment before opening your system .

Look for more photo tips each month or stop by our dive center and visit our photo department.

We invite you to join us for a great evening learning about the wonderful shark research and conservation efforts of “Fins Attached” presented by Executive Director and Researcher, Dr. Alex Antoniou, February 7th at 6pm. Please RSVP and reserve your seat by calling us at 303-789-2450, space is limited. The presentation will be held at A-1 Scuba and Travel Center. We will have a drawing for a FREE Dive with the Sharks during the seminar and you must be present to win.

A Message from Michele & Family

Hello, friends and family. First, we want to extend the sincerest of apologies to those of you who we have not been able to reach, and are hearing this message for the first time here.

In the wee hours of January 12, 2012, our dear Jim lifted his eyes toward his Heaven. Below is the obituary we have prepared, and wanted to share it with you first.

We encourage you to share your stories and thoughts about Jim in one of the following place. The stories we have received have brought us immeasurable comfort.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JimMapestxarl
Email jim@jimmapes.com
Michele 817-261-0349

For memorial consideration:

Wounded Warriors http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
National Brain Tumor Society http://www.braintumor.org/
Disabled American Veterans http://www.dav.org/
The Joyful Foundation http://joyfulfoundation.org/

You are invited to our Shark research and conservation presentation, Tuesday, February 7th at 6:00pm. Our hosts will be Expedition Leaders Dr. Alex Antoniou and Shane Taylor. Alex is the Executive Director of Fins Attached Marine Research & Conservation non profit (www.finsattached.org) and has been conducting shark research for over 15 years. There is much to learn and some amazing visuals will be shared showing the beauty and grace of many shark species. The highlight will be education about Great White sharks of Guadalupe and the interesting research that is currently being conducted. Alex plans to share many findings from the last expedition to Guadalupe. In August of 2012, A-1 Scuba will be joining Alex for our 5th Shark Research expedition! THIS is your opportunity to get involved in the research and become a part of the fight for survival of sharks! Hope you can make it.

Where: A-1 Scuba and Travel Center
When: February 7th at 6:00PM
RSVP to A-1 Scuba and Travel Center – 303-789-2450

Take this quiz posted by Alert Diver Online (DAN) and check your knowledge of Hazardous Marine Life

http://www.alertdiver.com/Hazardous_Marine_Life_Quiz

Sail on the Norwegian Spirit on January 8, 2012 from New Orleans to Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico and back to New Orleans.

Prices start from: Inside at $349pp, Oceanview $399pp, Balcony $829pp, Suite $1599pp

What is aboard the Norwegian Spirit:
The Tivoli Pool with 4 hot tubs, numerous deck chairs and sun beds

Buccaneer’s Wet & Wild – complete with slides, padding pool, and hot tubs just for kids.

Call Gwen our Cruise Specialist at 303-789-2450 for more details!

Friday-Monday take advantage of additional savings throughout the store. A large selection of equipment will be marked down to the lowest prices of the year. Visit us for details.

A very disturbing dredging of the harbor for industrial exploitation (coal) in Curtis and the Keppel Islands, which is considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, has been brought to our attention from some of our friends/customers/divers who visit this amazing area every year. Please help support the efforts to save this beautiful area from further contamination by signing the “Get Up! Save the Reef” petition. The link is provided below.

http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/coal-seam-gas/great-barrier-reef/save-the-reef

Please also tell your friends and get the word out. To read about an organization that is directly involved, the Capricorn Conservation Council, the link is provided below:

http://www.cccqld.org.au/index.html