News

August 15, 2010

We've just returned from our trip to Grand Cayman Island, where 21 of us had great time staying at Sunset House and diving with Sunset Divers. The highlight of the week was the trip to Stingray City where everyone had an up close and personal introduction to the Southern Stingray.  Photos can be viewed here.

In June we travelled half way around the world to North Sulawesi, Indonesia to dive the Lembeh Strait with KungKungan Bay Resort. I think the weird and wonderful creatures we encountered far exceeded everyone's expectations, I know they did mine. I was able to cross off every one of my to see critters with the exception of the Blue Ringed Octopus, Wonderpus and Velvet Pipefish. In case your wondering my list was over 30 fish long. If you've looked at our Cayman photos the KBR pics are just below them.

At the end of June I received approval from the Boy Scouts of America, Mason Dixon Council, to be a Merit Badge Counselor for the new Scuba Merit Badge. We've been working with Troop 33 from Shepherdstown getting them certified and will soon complete their Scuba Merit Badge certifications.

Even though it's mid August there is still a lot of diving going on.  There are open water classes going on right now and more are scheduled for September and October.  If you are interested in specialty certifications we have SOLO Diver, First Aid, CPR, Rescue Diver and Underwater Navigation, Night and Limited Visibility classes scheduled in August and September. For specific dates visit our calendar page.

Plus we have a Lake Rawlings trip scheduled for the 25th and 26th September and a Cozumel, Mexico trip at the end of October.  We have also added two trips for February and June 2011.  Visit our Travel page for more information.

APRIL 23, 2010

Nitrox

After years of having Nitrox tanks sent out to be filled, we're finally able to do it in house with the recent addition of a fill whip. With our "Modified Grade E" oxygen compatible  air, which is tested quarterly, tank and valve oxygen cleaning services and the ability to blend Nitrox, in house, BMD is able to meet all of your Nitrox needs.

APRIL 13, 2010

Blue Marble Divers is now a Pinnacle Wetsuit dealer. Pinnacle is the only wetsuit maker to add a Merino wool lining in their suits for additional warmth and comfort. You can learn more about Pinnacle and their product line here.

March 21, 2010

Yesterday evening 40 or so of our friends lured us to the Corner Pub to celebrate Blue Marble Divers 10 year anniversary. To say we were clueless about it would be an understatement. You completely and utterly destroyed the, two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead, myth. We were, and as I write this, still are thoroughly overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness and generosity. Our thanks and gratitude to everyone who attended. A very special thank you to Bob and Laura Gough, Ed and Cindy (I'm retiring) Calhoun and Chris and Vicki Marschner for putting it together. Mary and I are truly blessed to have all of you as friends. Photos of the party can be viewed here

March 14, 2010

ERDI Surface Ice Rescue Class

On 17, 19, and 21 February, Dennis Fortney, our ERDI Instructor, conducted an ERDI Surface Ice Rescue Operations Class for the Frederick County Fire Rescue Service at the Frederick County Training Center. The students were fire, rescue and police from around the area. As an Instructor with the Frederick County Fire Rescue, Dennis is able to provide first responders ERDI classes through BMD. Photos of the class can be viewed here.

March 1, 2010

Celebrating 10 Years

Wow, it’s hard to believe it has been ten years since we opened the doors for business. While I have been planning this anniversary for months, it has only been within the past few weeks I have taken the time reflect on our longevity and success. 

To start off, there are two groups of people we need to recognize.  First we thank every one of you, our friends. Your faith, trust and confidence in us, validates everything we do and is the most important measurement of our success. I purposely did not use the word customer as a descriptor. While you may have been a customer, when you first walked into the shop, we quickly became friends. Our friendship is based upon a common bond and love of the underwater world which allows us to transcend the traditional customer – merchant relationship. We have shared meals, drinks and stories, traveled together with a common purpose in mind and celebrated each others achievements and milestones, which is what friends do. 

Then there is our staff, past and present. I could fill pages writing about the individual skill sets and traits each has brought to the table.  Instead I offer this collective thank you. As an instructor I couldn’t do what I do with out your help. Because of you our training sessions run safely and smoothly.  You have acted as a sounding board and provided your unique insight and ideas to problems and challenges we have faced. Your professionalism and commitment to diving safety serves as a role model for all divers to emulate.  We are lucky and proud to have you as a part of our team.  

As I look back I can’t help but think about how lucky we are. We get to introduce people to a part of the world that only we as divers get the fleeting opportunity to experience firsthand.  We cannot thank you enough for the privilege of allowing us to be the ones to start you on your underwater journey. We look forward to the next ten years of new friendships and adventures.

May your seas be calm and visibility unlimited,

Customer Appreciation Sale

In celebration of our 10 Year Anniversary we are having a month long sale as a way to say thank you. Each week during the month we will be offering unbelievable discounts on equipment, with a different type featured each week.

March 2- 6 15% to 40% off on drysuits, wetsuits, skins, hoods and gloves

February 22, 2010

Cozumel Trip Report

After enduring two major snowfalls and wondering if the cleanup efforts would allow the airports to reopen, we were able to depart on-time for Cozumel, Mexico on the 13th. Between the diving and Carnival we had a very active week. While the weather was not the best for Cozumel, north winds made for choppy seas and cooler than normal temperatures, everyone made the best of it and had a very enjoyable and relaxing time. Even with the choppy seas the diving lived up to what Cozumel is known for. From exhilarating rides along the walls and reefs on ripping currents, to close encounters with eagle rays, sharks and turtles everyone's wow factor was met or exceeded. Pictures of the trip can be viewed here.

BMD's Newest Divemaster

Bret Penrod is BMD's newest Divemaster. Bret completed his training before departing For Cozumel. Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Bret aboard.

January 10, 2009

BMD is proud to announce we are a REEF Field Station, thanks to Instructor Terry Sumpter. REEF was founded in 1990, out of growing concern about the health of the marine environment, and the desire to provide the SCUBA diving community a way to contribute to the understanding and protection of marine populations. REEF achieves this goal primarily through its volunteer fish monitoring program, the REEF Fish Survey Project. Participants in the Project not only learn about the environment they are diving in, but they also produce valuable information. Scientists, marine park staff, and the general public use the data that are collected by REEF volunteers.

Terry will be presenting a class on how to conduct a REEF survey in the very near future.

January 5, 2009

Winter Hours

Tuesday - Friday  11 AM - 6 PM

Saturday 10 AM - 5PM

Closed

Sunday and Monday

January 2nd, 2010

Happy New Year!!

Yesterday, a few of us put common sense aside to make our annual pilgrimage to Mt. Storm to get the first dive of the year in. Photos can be viewed here and here.

 December 30, 2009

BMD's Newest Divemaster

Bob Gough is the newest member of our SDI professional staff having recently completed his training for Divemaster certification. Please join with me in congratulating Bob on his accomplishment and welcoming him aboard.

Training

We have SDI Equipment and Easy Nitrox specialty courses scheduled for January and February. You can our training schedule here. 

December 27, 2009

Well the weather finally cooperated and we were able to have our open house on the 26th. Photos can be viewed here or on the BMD Meetup site. The prize winners and their prizes are;

Chris Funk - 2010 BMD Calendar

Kim Weiler - Cressi Regulator Bag

Richard Elliott - Sherwood Mag 4 Mask

Kelsey Mellot - Momentum Watch

December 21, 2009

Holiday Open House Rescheduled

Due to this past weekend's weather, plenty of divers played it smart and stayed home, so we're going to try again. We've rescheduled our annual open house for December 26th, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Stop by to wish your diving friends happy holiday's, enjoy some snacks and drink and, register for prizes.

Magic Filters

BMD is now an authorized Magic Filter dealer. Despite the name there is no magic. The filters are custom recipes that produce the best results while taking photographs underwater. The principle is similar to a traditional red filter. However, the Magic Filter is not just a single color, but a precise recipe derived from extensive real world underwater photography tests with digital cameras. The Auto Magic Filter is just the answer for point and shoot cameras, producing colorful photographs without the use of flash.

Mares Trade-in Program

The Mares trade-in program ends December 31st. This offer is only good for Dacor Regulators made prior to Mares acquiring Dacor. Parts for these older Dacor regulators are becoming harder and harder to find and one day you will not be able to get your Dacor regulator serviced. So why wait until it's too late? Trade-in your old regulator and save $175.00 or more on a new Mares.

December 6, 2009

Christmas Specials

Zeagle has reintroduced their Z-30 program. From now until December 24th all Zeagle products are 30% off.

Family members can learn to dive for half price. Sign up for any of our 2010 Open Water classes by  December 31st  and a spouse or other family member's class price is 50% off.

Holiday Open House

Our annual Holiday Open House is December 19th from 10 AM - 6PM

November 18, 2009

Open water course schedule is posted for spring 2010 for both the Hagerstown and Waynesboro YMCA's. 

Our final dive of the year at Millbrook Quarry was this past weekend. Twenty-four people joined us for what turned out to be a beautiful, warm and sunny fall day. Photos can be viewed here.

November 8, 2009

With the local dive season quickly winding down, Dave found time to lead a trip to the Kent Narrows to dive for oysters. Everyone got their limit of a bushel each and had a good time. Upon their return to the shop there were plenty of hungry people waiting to savor their catch. Photos of the oyster feed can be viewed here.

Artistic diver

If you have been in the shop recently you may have noticed greeting cards by Diana Penrod for sale. Diana, along with her husband Bret, learned to dive with us a few years ago. She is a very talented watercolor painter and has painted underwater scenes inspired by photographs and her own experiences. She now has her own web site, diana penrod's gallery of art, where you can purchase her works directly from her.

Last Dive of the Year

On Sunday, November 15, Millbrook quarry closes to the public for the year. We're going down to get in one last dive for the year. There will also be a cookout and give a ways. If you would like to join us, please call the shop by the 10, so we'll enough passes and tanks ready.

October 27, 2009

BMD's Newest Instructor

BMD is proud to announce Mark Noble as our newest SDI Instructor. Mark, who is our first in-house trained instructor, completed his certification on October 17th. With a background in education,  Mark adds a new level of instructional expertise and professionalism to our staff.

CONGRATULATIONS MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

October 19, 2009

Travel Report

We've just returned from a week of diving with our friends Annabel and DJ Hiltz of Blue Island Divers in St. Thomas.  Annabel and DJ learned to dive with us five years ago. They run a great dive operation and showed us their favorite dive sites. Between the wrecks and reefs there was plenty to see and do. We enjoyed the diving so much we were making plans to return on the flight home. Pictures from the trip can be viewed here.

Mares Lab Facility

 After an intensive three days of training Blue Marble Divers is now a Mares Lab Repair Facility. In addition to the initial training, as a Lab Facility we are subject to periodic technical inspections to ensure we are maintaining the standards required for the designation. So what does this mean for you? When you bring your Mares regulator, BC, Spear Gun or any other Mares equipment to us the level of expertise and service will be the same as if you sent your equipment directly to Mares.

New Training Courses

David received his instructor certification for TDI Nitrox Blender and O2 Service Technician before departing for St. Thomas. While there he certified DJ and one of his staff, Tony, in both specialties. For anyone looking to blend their own Nitrox, or to O2 clean their tanks or regulators, BMD is now the place to earn these TDI specialties.

Reminders of How Small the World Really Is

While in St. Thomas we ran into Kayla Canfield, a friend, customer and a former dive master with Express Scuba in Myrtle Beach. We also crossed paths with another diver who let us know he saw our sticker at Bequa Lagoon Resort, Fiji, when he was there this past January. It is a small world!!

Last Dive of the Year

Millbrook Quarry closes it's gate to the public for the diving season on November 15th. As in years past we are getting together with our diving and non-diving friends to close out another dive year. If you would like to join us for a finial dive and cookout, please let us know by November 10, so we can make sure we have enough passes on hand.

September 13, 2009

Greenbrier Cleanup

The Greenbrier cleanup was a very well attended event, the best in all the years we've been doing it. We had over 35 divers and non-divers attend. Several new Meet-up members attended along with friends of our diving friends. While there was not as much trash as in years past there were a few unusual items found. The most unusual find was a partial upper dental plate. How someone could loose their dentures is beyond me. Thanks to everyone who brought a covered dish and to Laura and Joe for cooking the dogs and burgers. Photos of the event can be viewed here.

September 4, 2009

New Products

BMD is now a dealer for Sherwood and Akona dive gear lines.

BMD Annual Greenbrier Lake Clean-up

The clean-up is scheduled for next Sunday, September 13th at 9AM. There are a good number of divers already signed up. If you are planning on joining us, please contact the shop by next Thursday, September 10th, so we can make sure we have enough tanks filled for everyone.

Tank Rental $5.00

Wetsuit, BCD and Regulator $15.00

Hotdogs, Hamburgers and Beverages provided. Please bring a covered dish to share.

Prizes will be awarded

August 21, 2009

We still have several spaces available for the October 10 - 17, St. Thomas trip. The prices have been reduced because air fare is no longer included in the price of the trip. The diver price is now $1525.00 and the non-diver price is $925.00. If you are interested in going along we can make flight arrangements or you can reserve your own.

August 16, 2009

It's almost that time of year again. Mark September 13th on your calendar for our annual cleanup at Greenbrier State Park. Divers and non-divers alike are welcome to join us as we make a part of the park safer and cleaner for all. There will be plenty to eat and prizes to be won. While the park is open to all divers who wish to conduct their own cleanup, to take part in our activities preregistration with the shop is required.