Labor Day weekend 2010, what better way to end the summer then diving and camping with Scouts. I was asked to join Troop 1833 out of Haymarket Virginia as their dive professional for the first ever ScubaJam Virginia held at Lake Rawlings in Rawlings VA. Pictures posted here, working on the video over the next few days.
Boy Scouts and Ventures crews from Virginia and I think there was a group from North Carolina too. Got together for a weekend to dive for FUN.
Hurricane Earl did not show up and we had fantastic weather. Sunny not a cloud in the sky, temps where in the high 80's low humidity. Nights where clear and cool. Next time I am taking a telescope too, so many stars.
Lake Rawlings was never better. Warm, 84 at the surface and 80'ish right down to the thermal-clim at ~35 ft. On the deep side at the airplane and boat at ~60 ft the water temp was 44 degrees. After the initial dives to explore the deep stuff we all ditch the wet suits and hung out in the near bath water temperatures above 35 ft. There is a lot to see and explore in the shallow depths so the deep was not missed.
The organizers of ScubaJam Virginia had both land and water based activities and demonstrations set up for Saturday and Sunday. At the end of the weekend they had a ceremony where the winners of the land and water activities where awarded dive gear. Scout/Crew member received dive lights, mask, dive bags, fins and DAN gear.
There where two scouts/crew that received $250 continuing dive education scholarships and one scout won a spot on Blackbeard's live aboard cruise for next year. How awesome is that!
From what I hear the ScubaJam Virginia folks are going to take a day or two to rest up, check in on their real jobs then are going right back at it to plan ScubaJam Virginia 2011.
I am planning to be there either as a dive pro for a troop or crew, if not I will see if I can become part of the ScubaJam Crew.