Level up your diving skills for 2025!

Once again, Big Apple Divers, in partnership with Evolution Scuba, is excited to offer a one-day diving ‘workshop’ on Saturday, May 10th, led by world-renowned instructor Ed Hayes and hosted by Club Treasurer, Brian Chu & Dive Sponsor, Janet Ye.

Whether you are new to diving or a seasoned dive professional, this workshop - modeled after Evolution Scuba's $750  "Elements" course - is designed to enhance your comfort and confidence underwater. It is perfect for divers who:
• Want to hone their buoyancy, trim & propulsion skills
• Are new to a backplate and wing or interested in trying this configuration
• Would like more focused instruction and tips for drysuit diving
• Are new to a double tanks or would like to try out a set

Workshop Details:
• Date: Saturday, May 10th, 2025
• Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
• Location: Brownstone Adventure Park, 161 Brownstone Ave, Portland, CT 06480
• Cost: $100 ( includes park admission fee, lunch, beverages, snacks, and rental gear - tanks available for $20)

Skills Covered:
• Gear configuration and proper backplate and wing fitting (perfect if you have your own rig!)
• Surface water drills and efficient propulsion techniques
• Optimal weighting and trim adjustments
• Drysuit control and buoyancy
• Advanced in-water propulsion (frog kicks, back kicks, helicopter turns)
• Trim and buoyancy control

Gear Requirements:
• Backplate and wing (Backmount only - no sidemount, sorry!)
• Drysuit (preferred) or wetsuit, plus boots, hood & gloves
• Regulator, mask, fins 
• Personal tanks (single or doubles, but doubles require use of a drysuit) Tanks are available to rent for a nominal fee

Don’t worry if you don’t have all of the above - Evolution Scuba can provide much of it - just note what equipment you need on the registration form!

Registration:

• Email workshop@bigappledivers.com to confirm availability.
• Fill out the registration form.
• Upon confirmation, send $100 via Zelle to treasurer@bigappledivers.com with "Evolution Workshop" in the memo.

Questions? Check out our FAQ below or reach out to us at workshop@bigappledivers.com
Don't miss this incredible opportunity to learn from a world-class team and take your diving skills to the next level - last year's workshop sold out in only a week, so reserve your spot today!

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FAQ
• What if I don’t have all the equipment? You can still sign up! Note what you need in the registration form - Evolution Scuba has equipment you can use free of charge. If you need tanks, there is a $20 fee for tank rentals. Please bring your own mask!
• Can I rent a wetsuit from Evolution? No, they do not have wetsuits available.
• Is the style of training affiliated with any agency? No. The workshop is agency-agnostic and this training will help prepare you for any type of diving you wish to do, including technical diving.
• Can I dive with a jacket-style BC? No. The wing's placement on your back and the weight distribution of a backplate and wing system supports a more horizontal body position and is the main platform to the skills that we will cover in the workshop.
• Is there parking? Free parking is available on-site at Brownstone Adventure Park.
• Open to all? Absolutely! This workshop welcomes divers of all experience levels and environments - including warm and cold water divers alike!
• For more info on Ed Hayes, please click here.