Membership blog

Let’s all give a warm welcome back to Brad Baron.  Brad has such a rich history with the USA Dive Club, dating back to the 1990s, and he’s filled with great memories of his diving adventures both locally and abroad.   In the mid 90s, his employer, IBM, transferred Brad and many of his colleagues to Texas.  But Brad was able to rejoin the Club from 2017 to 2019 and has now found his way back again.   It’s always nice to have him here when he travels from Texas to visit family in South Florida. 

He's not just an experienced diver—having become certified by the International Association of NITROX and Technical Divers in 1995 and racking up over 500 dives—but he's also a Divemaster who loves sharing stories about his incredible dive Club trips.  Remember that liveaboard to Belize?   Or the fun dives and hikes in Dominica?  He surely has some amazing tales to tell.

Recently, Brad joined us for a USA social event hosted by Kathi in the Big Cypress Swamp, capturing memories with lots of photos and enjoying the company of fellow USA divers. 

So, if you spot Brad at an event while he’s in the area, be sure to say hi.  Let’s make him feel right at home!

Join us at our in-person meetings to connect and socialize with fellow dive enthusiasts and be entertained and educated by our guest speakers.  Feel free to bring along a friend or two.  It's a great way to make new memories together.

As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

Happy diving, everyone.  Let’s keep the good vibes going!

Green sea turtles are associated with St. Patrick's Day because of their green fat and because they are marine reptiles.  To read all about these marvelous creatures, click the following link:

All About Green Sea Turtles

Handing out USA Dive Club business cards is such a fantastic idea, especially when meeting other divers during a local dive.  A huge shoutout to Laura, Ryan, and all the local divers for spreading the word while having fun underwater.  What a great way to invite fellow divers into our Club. 

Join us at our in-person meetings to connect and socialize with fellow dive enthusiasts and be entertained and educated by our guest speakers.  Feel free to bring along a friend or two.  It's a great way to make new memories together.

As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

Happy diving, everyone.  Let’s keep the good vibes going!

It is with deep sorrow that I write to inform you of the passing of long-time USA Dive Club member Carol Schurtz on January 12, 2025, after a long battle with dementia. 

Carol joined our diving family in 1995.  She had a quick wit and an amazing sense of humor.  As a Divemaster, she took full advantage of our overseas dive program and traveled with her underwater camera to many parts of the world, forming lasting friendships along the way.  Carol also enjoyed diving on local reefs, loved photographing marine life at the Blue Heron Bridge, and participated in local diving events.  She was among the first to sign up for Club parties, always making sure to “dress up” for the occasion. 

For many years, she served diligently as USA Dive Club’s topside and underwater photographer, and her creative talents truly shone when she put together our Club scrapbooks.  In recognition of her contributions, Carol attained Hall of Fame status in 2010 and became a lifetime member. 

Below is a link to an album that showcases some of Carol’s memorable moments: 

**Remembering Carol Schurtz** 

If you would like to send your condolences to her son, Andrew, please use the following address: 

Andrew Schurtz

495 13th Lane SW 

Vero Beach, FL 32962-6482 

Carol expressed her wishes many years ago, requesting that her ashes be spread at the Blue Heron Bridge.  The plans for her celebration of life are underway, and details will be provided once they are finalized.

We wish "Happy Bubbles Forever" to our Photo Mermaid!

I’m excited to introduce some amazing new members to our USA Dive Club family! 

Let’s give a big, warm welcome to Sandy and Steve Smith, who were encouraged to join by their diving buddy, Karin.  Karin discovered our club while diving in the Lembeh Strait.  Sandra is an Advanced Open Water diver, and her husband, Steve, holds a Master Scuba Diver certification.   Although Karin is based in Nevada and the Smiths in Oregon, they’re all set to dive together on our upcoming trip to the Philippines in 2025.

We also have Todd Alger joining us from Boynton Beach, where he’s soaking up the sun from January to April. Todd met some of our members on the Loggerhead dive boat last year and couldn’t resist becoming part of our community. 

With 2,000 dives under his belt, he’s an Advanced Open Water diver.  His most memorable dive was the Torpedo Ray dive.  Todd is looking forward to ticking off that three-tank lobster dive to the north shore from his to-do list.  If he’s not diving, you can usually find Todd shooting hoops on the basketball court.

When you see Sandra, Steve, or Todd at our dives, meetings, or social events, be sure to give them a friendly hello and make them feel right at home.  Let’s show them the warmth and camaraderie that our club has to offer.

Don't forget your loved ones on Valentine's Day, Friday, February 14th.

Join us at our in-person meetings to connect and socialize with fellow dive enthusiasts and be entertained and educated by our guest speakers.  Feel free to bring along a friend or two—it’s a great way to make new memories together.  You won't regret it.

As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

I want to give a warm welcome to our new member, Elizabeth “Liz” Miner, who hails from the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon.  Liz discovered the USA Dive Club through a friend, and we’re so glad she did.  She’s an experienced diver, holding an Advanced Open Water certification, and has made almost 400 dives. 

One of her fondest diving memories is from the wondrous Lembeh Strait in Indonesia, where the vibrant marine life is simply incredible.  Liz is also excited about her upcoming trip to the Philippines with our Club next year.

When she’s not diving, you can find her enjoying the great outdoors through hiking and swimming. 

Let’s all give Liz a warm, long-distance shoutout from sunny Florida to lovely Oregon.  We can’t wait to meet her in person and share diving adventures together.

Karin “Royce” McCollum first learned about the USA Dive Club from fellow divers while on a diving adventure in the Solomon Islands.  Certified in 2005, Royce is a proud Divemaster with an impressive 975 dives under her belt. 

A retired teacher, she is now enjoying her retirement in Sparks, Nevada.  Royce has a passion for travel and has explored 134 countries.  Her absolute favorite diving spot is Raja Ampat, known for its stunningly pristine reefs and spectacular views.  If she could choose her dream dive, it would be anywhere in the world where she could encounter “heaps of octopuses!”  

When she's not diving, you might spot Royce cruising down snowy slopes while skiing or having fun on the pickleball court.  Royce is excited about her upcoming trip to the Philippines in 2025 with the USA Dive Club.

Patrice Gerard is a snowbird from Maine.  While local diving with Splashdown Divers on the Loggerhead dive boat not too long ago, he had a wonderful encounter with a friendly group of fellow divers from the USA Dive Club. They were so welcoming that they invited him to check out the Club, and Patrice decided to take their advice to heart and join the community.

Certified just over a year ago as an Advanced Open Water diver, Patrice has over 80 dives.  His favorite dive so far was in the extraordinary waters of Bonaire, exploring wrecks and Joanne's Sunchi.  And for his dream dive?  He dreams of plunging into Austraila's breaktaking Great Barrier Reef.

Originally from Paris, Patrice is a retired French chef who loves to travel, savor delicious food, enjoy music, and immerse himself in the arts.  He brings a sprinkle of that French flair to the diving community and is always eager to meet new friends and explore new underwater adventures together.  Bienvenu, Patrice!

Join us at our in-person meetings to connect and socialize with fellow dive enthusiasts and be entertained and educated by our guest speakers.  Feel free to bring along a friend or two—it’s a great way to make new memories together.  You won't regret it.

As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

The Christmas Tree Worm is a marine animal distantly related to earthworms.  Could anything be more festive?

Click HERE and enjoy a short video about the beautiful Christmas Tree Worm.  What a fantastic photo.  It was captured by our talented Club Photographer, Laura Moran, during some local diving on the Loggerhead dive boat in beautiful Boynton Beach.  Doesn’t it just inspire us to dive in and explore?

This holiday season, treat yourself to something special.  Renew your membership in the USA Dive Club and enjoy the thrill of diving with great company.

No longer diving?  That’s totally fine.  We’re all about having fun together on land as well.  Lureen has some fantastic non-diving events in the works that you definitely won’t want to miss.

The best part?  Our annual membership dues haven’t gone up.  You can renew your individual membership for just $50, or if you’re a married couple or domestic partners, it’s only $90 total ($45 each).  Plus, if you have adult, dependent children who are certified divers and still live at home, they can join for FREE! 

Join us at our in-person meetings to connect and socialize with fellow dive enthusiasts and be entertained and educated by our guest speakers.  Feel free to bring along a friend or two—it’s a great way to make new memories together.  You won't regret it.

As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

Here's a fun little fact from your Membership Coordinator to brighten your day. 

Did you know lionfish, sometimes called turkeyfish, have some pretty impressive—and venomous—spines?  They can pack quite a sting!  From the right angle, their beautiful fins look a lot like turkey feathers, which is where the cute nickname comes from. Click on the above link to learn more.

And for all you pescatarians out there, don’t worry—you can still enjoy your “turkey” by diving into some delicious lionfish. 

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and great food with friends and family.

As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

Just a friendly reminder to keep this in mind: While you're out on Halloween and you come across a ghost, goblin, or haunted pumpkin, strike up a conversation about our fantastic sport of scuba diving. You never know, you might just be chatting with a ghostly scuba diver who's looking to join a club.

As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

Hey everyone, 

I wanted to take a moment to recognize all the new members who have joined the USA Dive Club so far this year.  Whether you've been coming to meetings or participating in dives and local events, I want to thank you for being a part of our Club.  I know that some of you can't make it to the in-person meetings because you're living out of the area – shoutout to our out-of-towners; Sheila from Switzerland who went diving with the Club in the Solomon Islands; Nick from Ft. Myers trekking across the state for our local dives; Ryan from St Petersburg who traveled with us to Little Cayman; and Mark who tries to attend our meetings on Zoom.

To all our existing members, let's make an effort to attend more in-person meetings and get to know our new members.  It's also a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends.  When you come to the next meeting, take a moment to check out the "New Member" display board in the back of the room and learn a little bit about each new member.

I've put together a collage of some of our most recent members to help you match the names with the people.  Can't wait to see all of you at our next General Membership meeting! 

As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

Ronnie Guha discovered the USA Dive Club while searching the Internet with a Google Search.  Ronnie holds an Advanced Open Water certification from SSI and plans to further his diving education by taking the NITROX course by the end of the month.  

As a new diver with 14+ dives under his weight belt, Ronnie looks forward to adding more to his logbook by joining us on Ryan’s weekend local dives.  One of the perks of being a new diver is that the USA Dive Club offers those certified within 12 months of applying for membership, a “First Year Free” membership…and free is good!  Ronne has signed up for several Club dives and is looking forward to taking the plunge with us.

On the top of his wish list is diving the Great Barrier Reef, and when not diving, Ronnie enjoys music and swimming.

Please warmly welcome Ronnie when you see him at a meeting, on a dive, or at a social event.

As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

Hey everyone!  Wishing you all a fantastic Fourth of July!  Just a friendly reminder to handle those firecrackers with caution.  It's always a great idea to kick back, relax, and enjoy a local fireworks display put on by the experts. 

With summer officially here, the call of "Dive...Dive...Dive..." is music to our ears!  Our new members are joining our experienced divers, and are diving into Ryan's awesome local dive program.  Many members are also signing up for the exciting overseas dives meticulously planned by Nils. 

So, what are you waiting for?  Get back on the dive boat and share the good news about our Club! 

And remember, we’ll see you in August.