Make plans now for the 2011 Eels on Wheels Trip to Bonaire!

We are confirmed at the Divi Flamingo Resort in Bonaire for June 11-18, 2011. More information will follow, but please mark your calendars now.  

Travelers will be responsible for making their own airline reservations.  The majority of the group will take the 11:30pm Continental flight from Houston on Friday night, June 10, 2011, arriving in Bonaire at 7:30am June 11, 2011.  We'll return home on the 7:30am Continental flight June 18, 2011. 

We are accepting room/diving deposits starting August 1, 2010 for the 2011 trip.  You can send your deposit for $500 per person, made payable to Eels on Wheels, to:

 Jill Crocker
13416 Anarosa Loop
Austin, TX  78727

Questions?  E-mail Jill@eels.org or Chad@eels.org.

Also, stay tuned for details on an Eels' winter dive trip. To find out more about these events and more, join the eelsonwheels Yahoo group.

Seton Brain & Spine Recovery Center & Eels on Wheels offer Adaptive SCUBA Experience for those with Disabilities

Austin, TX - (July 22, 2010) - On Saturday, July 17, children, teens and adults left their crutches, walkers and wheelchairs behind them to explore the underwater world through SCUBA diving at Tom's Dive and Swim.

Seton Brain & Spine Recovery Center, along with Eels on Wheels, offered children and adults with spinal cord injuries and those with other physical disabilities an opportunity to try various SCUBA equipment and have their first experience breathing underwater.

"Image what life would be like if you didn't have the physical ability to do simple tasks, such as brush your teeth in the morning, but were able to SCUBA dive in the Caribbean?," explains Mike Haynes, Manager of the Seton Brain & Spine Recovery Center and an experienced, adaptive SCUBA diver. "This program offers those with physical disabilities an opportunity of a lifetime," say Haynes.

Participants have three phases of opportunities: an initial experience of breathing underwater and learning the basics of SCUBA diving to determine if they liked diving and are comfortable in the water to take the certification course. The second phase consists of an adapted SCUBA certification course where a person with a spinal cord injury or other physical disability will become open water certified. Those with severe disabilities, such as quadriplegics can also become open-water certified, but require two dive buddies to operate their equipment for them. The final phase will be an exotic trip to Bonaire, Netherland Antilles in the southern Caribbean to experience SCUBA diving at its best.

Balmorhea State Park Dive Trip - October 14-17, 2010

Lodging - Balmorhea State Park Hotel

Unlimited Diving & Snorkeling (night dives)

Pot Luck Dinner - Saturday night

Hiking

McDonald Observatory Star Party (day tour optional)

Price - $150 p.p. (based on double occupancy) rooms include kitchenette

Trip Itinerary

Thursday, October 14th

• Depart: Austin (6 hour drive)
• Arrive: Balmorhea 5pm
• Night Dive

Friday, October 15th

• Dive, Dive, Dive
• Hike around Davis Mountain
• 9:00pm to 11:00pm Star Party @ McDonald's Observatory
• $10 per person, $9 (kids 6-12) ~ Guided Tour
• Observatory (6,300-6,800 ft. above sea level)
• Dress Warmly!!

Saturday, October 16th

• Mcdonald's Observatory Tour at 11:00am ($8pp) or dive
• 6:30pm Burgers & Potluck dinner at Lora's room

Sunday, October 17th

• Drive Home!!

What to bring:

• All personal dive equipment including tanks and weights
• 2-3 tanks are recommended
• Thermal protection (3mm to 5mm full suit recommended)
• Certification Card must be presented to park staff
• Dive light & batteries

Food & Ice chest - pack or pick up everything you need in Austin or on the way. There is one small grocery store in town with a limited selection.

• Side dish for pot luck dinner. (dessert, beans, chips, etc.)

Park Details:

• Water Temp: Approximately 73-75
• Visibility = 60ft Max Depth = 21 feet
• Air Temp Avg for Oct. : High= 72 Low= upper 43

CALL LORA at Tom's Dive Shop for more information & Sign Up! 

512-451-3425