Naui Scuba Diver Course, Class 4

Only 1 class to go until the open water dives and our first fully certified Schoobents!  Here are some pics and videos from their 4th session:

Getting serious in class.

Breeding healthy divers.

Answering one of Rolman's many awesome questions.

The first ever Schooba Academy water bottle! Super huge thanks to Rob V. for the gift.

The kids, trying to look cool ... Rolman not doing very good.

...And blowing it completely. ...Especially Rolman.

The totally awesome mentors.

Getting good at this whole scuba thing.

Out of air emergencies: Alternate air source ascents.

Lookin' good.

Listening to Instructor Jimmy, going over Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascents.

And then practicing them.

Quincy looking comfortable waiting for his turn to go.

And a short video of the Schoobents practicing their skills:

Naui Scuba Diver Course, Class 3

3/5 in the books.  Check it:

A classroom session to start, of course.

Boyle's Law? Yeah, we know that.

Getting ready to set up our gear.

Rolman, confident with the attachment of his regulator.

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Scuba is all about the teamwork.

Gideon, with a nice Giant Stride Entry.

John, with some good buoyancy.

Rolman, demonstrating a killer fin pivot.

Lining up for an underwater lap.

Gideon, neutrally buoyant.

"What you doing?" "Oh, you know, just practicing my buoyancy."

Quincy: "Man, that was so fun. Hey Dierre, do you think it's possible to surgically implant gills behind my ears like Kevin Costner in Waterworld?" Dierre: "As a science teacher, I think I'm obligated to tell you no." Quincy: "Dang. Guess I'll just settle for scuba."

Naui Scuba Diver Course, Class 2

Pics from the second class of our certification course:

Quincy on the train, studying before class.

Quincy in class, learning about the Eustachian tube

Learning the science of scuba.

Instructor, Paul Bardo

Yes, there will be a test.

JB, looking cool in his swim cap.

You wanna dive? ... You can carry your own equipment.

Learning to assemble the equipment.

Rolman checking his equipment.

Juan and Quincy doing the same.

Quincy, about to take his first breaths on the SCUBA

Learning to trust our equipment. Notice we're not wearing any masks.

Breathing ... underwater ... with no masks.

Juan so comfortable and trusting he's dozing off.

And lastly, a random pic of a little surface swimming.

Meet the inaugural class for the Schooba Mentor program!

Tuesday, 5/31, The Schooba Academy launched its Schooba Mentor program.  In this, our newest program, three students from Lyons Community School have been paired with three totally awesome mentors to complete a full scuba certification course together.  The students are simultaneously receiving free, private tutoring on the science involved in scuba diving.  Have a look at some pics from their first session.

Follow the links below to learn more about the newest Schoobents and to help support them in their quest to Schooba!

Gideon & Juan

Dierre & Quincy

John & Rolman

Naui Scuba Diver Course, Class 1

The Schooba Mentor program kicked off this past Tuesday, and both students and mentors began their training for the Naui Scuba Diver Certification.  Instruction for the course is being run by Ocean Horizons Scuba.  All classes will consist of a classroom and pool session.  Tuesday provided a basic introduction to scuba and its equipment, followed by a pool session covering basic swimming and skin diving skills and techniques.  Session 1 is in the books, so grab a slice at Schmooks, your crochet hooks, that Sharper Image alarm clock that made sounds of babbling brooks,  and have a looks!

John and Rolman, walking on the street.

Gideon, Juan, and Quincy, talking and walking at the same time.

Dierre and Quincy, about to walk into their first ever scuba class.

In the classroom, checking out the reading material.

Rolman and Juan, showing off their scuba stuff.

"No, Quincy, sleep is important. Please don't stay up all night reading your new scuba manual. Try and spread it out over a few days." - Me

Laser focus.

Sponge-like minds, in action.

Learning about diving cylinders.

The classroom

The crew, looking cool and fit, by the pool.

Now with their scuba instructor, Paul Bardo of Ocean Horizons Scuba.

The pool

Mask clearing.

Quincy and Dierre, about to learn some scuba skills.

Perfecting our kicks.

John and Rolman, finding it funny that they both had dreams about scuba diving the previous night.

Schooba Mentor program launches today!

The Schooba Mentor program pairs students from low-income communities with a totally awesome mentor to complete a full scuba certification course together.  The student simultaneously receives free, private tutoring on the science involved in scuba diving.

Starting today, three student-mentor pairs will begin their NAUI Scuba Diver (Open Water) course.  The training will be done by Ocean Horizons Scuba, and the open water dives will take place place off of Beach 8th/9th St. in Far Rockaway, Queens this summer.  I’ll be posting information on our newest Schoobents individually throughout the week, so stay posted to learn more!

…Oh, and how can you become a mentor!?  For now, email me (zach@schooba.org).

The American Museum of Natural History, 5/21/11

Pics from our recent trip to the AMNH:

Penguin brand shirt? Nah, Rolman loves marine stuff so much he stitched that on himself.

Walking to the museum ...Reservoir Dogs??

In awe of the mollusc.

Teaching the AMNH staff about plankton.

"Zach, I'm so confused. I don't know if I should become a zooplankton ecologist or a phytoplankton ecologist." - Nyell

Juan and Rolman trying not to smile.

Rolman, not doing a very good job.

And then crumbles Juan.

Duane and Yashira in the Hall of the Universe.

Group shot 1

Group shot 2

Schoobent caught wearing ocean themed pins!

We spotted this Schoobent in the hallways last week rocking fish/whale pins!

"You kidding me!? I represent fish like every day." - Rolman G.

5/8 Pool Session

This post is coming a bit delayed, but have a look at some pics from our latest pool session on Sunday, 5/8.  Super huge thanks to Ocean Horizons Scuba and St. Francis College for helping to make it happen.

The pool at St. Francis College

13 Feet deep!!

Juan starting his certification! 1:1 ratio with his instructor, Paul Bardo of Ocean Horizons!

Nyell getting ready for her first underwater experience!

About to take that first breath.

Taking that first breath.

Swimmin'

And chillin' ...underwater!

"Wearing your mask on your forehead is considered a sign of distress. To avoid any confusion, you can put it in the cool position. Here, I'll model it for you." - Zach

Some abstract art from resident Schooba photographer, G'Imani.

Our Oceana Ocean Heros feature is up!

Last week, we found out we were a finalist in Oceana’s Ocean Heros contest.  Yesterday, we were featured on their site!  Check it out here, and if you get a moment, please vote!

http://na.oceana.org/en/blog/2011/05/ocean-hero-finalists-zach-rome