Making your diving enjoyable is our #1 Priority!

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1 Making your diving enjoyable is our #1 Priority! Briefly - & World Wide Web Photo - Free signed photo by Ed New - Four Seasons Hotel Dive Site - Roger's Front Yard Services - Certification by Lynn Trips - Palau & New Guinea Hiwahiwa Kai (Precious Ocean) Searching deep within our soul. Being sure to stay on track to obtain, the ultimate goal. To share our love. of this wondrous place so far below. Hoping everyone s knowledge of this precious gift, will grow. Remembering each experience as special still hoping the love of it, all shall know. Practicing our philosophy to cherish it, means reminding our friends to always care for it For remembering to love the sea has many rewards. Though not visible to many the benefits will ultimately touch the lives of plenty. So keep the ocean the way it began, through the eye s of it s creator and not through the eye s of man. by Ronda Pacheco From Ed's Desk Seasons Greetings to all. My hope is that the passing year has been filled with joy, and the new year will become your best year yet. In 1996 we saw some things change, and a few important things stay the same. A large part of my time has been spent organizing and operating the Scuba Concession at the Four Seasons Resort in Wailea. Opening a new business wasn't a planned move, but when the most prestigious hotel on Maui requested we operate their Scuba Center... well, it seemed to fit our style! We have a couple of additions to our staff. We are now working closely with Lynn Allen, who has added a new dimension to our services by taking on beach introductory dives (for the land lubbers who don t really want to get certified) and all levels of instruction, from basic to advanced. We are staying true to our philosophy of taking only certified divers on our boats. A big - little addition to our staff is Paul and Joanne Reid s new family member, Emma. We haven t quite found a dive mask to fit her yet, but we re still looking. It is pretty much a fact of life that Kahoolawe is off limits as a dive destination. It is distressing to think Tides & Currents newsletter from Ed Robinson's Diving Adventures - December, 1996 that Ulua Ridge, The Grotto, Scarecrow Reef, and 1001 Species are just memories. As aggressive as we have been in the past, the State of Hawaii s threat to pull our commercial permits have stopped us from diving there. Those of you who have had the good fortune of visiting this Forbidden" Island can reminisce about some of the great dives we've shared there. We are keeping our eyes open in the hope of obtaining a derelict ship to sink as an artificial reef. There is an unbelievable amount of red tape involved, so this process is not quick, or cheap. If any of you are interested in participating through donations please contact our office. Placement for this wreck will most likely be adjacent Wailea, so it will be an easy trip from the Kihei Launch Ramp. If you have access to the Internet, check out our Web Page. As we mark our place on the Information Super Highway we also open up a new, quick and easy way to contact us through . Your comments are welcome, and we look forward to hearing from you. Join us in embracing the New Year with an attitude of abundance, peace and love. Let us share with gracious respect the lands and seas of our world, our home.

2 DIVER S RAVE ON THE WAVE...we chartered a few dive companies on the island. Yours was in a league of its own... how we wish we would have done all our dives with your company. What a wonderful experience to dive with the likes of Kim and Renee, and to have a boat captain like Bird. Thank you Thank you Thank You... <michelle and scott butzke> (9/10/96) My family and I felt that we had to write and tell how thrilled and pleased we were with our experience with your charter service....with Paul, Kim, and Byrd acting as divemasters. I have to tell you, these people were courteous, professional, and skilled. They made the difference between the successful introduction to a wonderful sport and a disaster! I explained to Kim (who was our divemaster) that we were new divers and that we would likely require some extra attention. She... proceeded to give Mary and Jennifer the extra care necessary to make them feel comfortable in the water, (and believe me that required a lot extra!) <dale, mary, jennifer, amber wade> (10/5/96) I dove with your crew last week and had an awesome time. My first dive with you was the night dive where we visited Marty's Reef and 5 caves. The next day I went on the adventure dive. Your staff is truly excellent and professional. Thanks a lot for a great time and I will surely be a repeat customer the next time I'm in Maui. <minh le> (9/8/96) Off Season As our popularity has grown, so too has the number of days the boats run full. During the off seasons there is a chance the boats will run with a lighter load and the Island will be a little quieter. Here are some date ranges to shoot for: I Last 3 weeks of January I first half of May I first half of June I first half of September I October I first 3 weeks of December Let's Go Diving! ERDA WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM My wife and I just finished a wonderful vacation and you were a big part of it! We took a total of 11 dives, including the certification dives. Lynn was great. Mary, my wife, was going to give it up after the first 15 minutes in the water. She was sort of doing it for me anyway. Lynn worked with her and she kept at it. Now she's like a fish in the water... <gregg & mary haverly> (9/12/96) Now we're already back at work and it really is no comparison to diving with Bird, Kim, Paul, Billy, Paul (and Sue once!)...got our pictures back and the lion fish, turtles, eels,... etc. etc. are fun. Needless to say, we'll be back again. <robert and diane blackwell> (10/1/96) We extend Special thanks to all of our loyal fellow divers who continue to make our reputation speak for itself. We truly thank you for all the kind words and letters. A special Mahalo to all of you who have surfed the wave with words of praise. Thanks from the entire staff & crew of Ed Robinson s Diving Adventures. Come visit us on the Internet - it's only a moment away - just at the end of your fingertips. Maui Scuba Diving - Ed Robinson's Diving Adventures - " us at - robinson@maui.net EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT! DIVERS SHED1,268 POUNDS! With the help of our warm water buoyancy workshop, the crew has provided divers with more comfortable, reef conscious diving skills. Record breaking statistics are based on 85 charters with an average of 6.5 divers per charter taking advantage of the FREE program. Available upon request while onboard Seadiver II, Sundays and Tuesdays.

3 NEW DIVE SITE What's new on the Reef Roger's Front Yard - Our new dive site is located in the Makena area (South Maui). This site is named after our Jacque Cousteau of ERDA - Roger Pannier. The name was chosen because it sits just offshore of Roger's home in Makena. It is a delightful dive filled with Green Sea Turtles. Often divers see six or seven turtles at once. A large variety of moray eels share this reef with a multitude of tropical fish, frog fish and the rare Chevron Tang. We sometimes see Eagle Rays and Manta Rays - but don't want to promise this treat. Don't hesitate to ask the crew to take you here, next time you're on the boat. SIZZLING SIGHT Whale Sharks sightings at Molokini Crater have been at an all time high this year! We seem to be running into these bugga's every few months. Last sighting was in early November off Reef's End (Molokini). Most of our divers got a close-up look while some were even able to touch it. This was a great day for several of our long-time (13 year) divers; Gerry Burch, Del & Vi Preston and Dave & Cari Carlson. This is what makes diving so great - we NEVER know what will greet us from day to day. SIZZLERS AT THE SITES Lots of Manta Ray encounters at Molokini Crater lately. Often we sight two or three rays on a single dive, and several giants with a 15' wing (fin) span. Frog Fish, frog fish and more frog fish. For all of us who can't find these masters of camouflage, our crew has the keen eye to find them for you. On many dives we sight several. It is amazing how many colors they come in. Do you recall diving a site named Five Caves (sometimes called 5 Graves) - well, due to the large population of Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles that live there, this site has taken on yet another name - "Turtle Town". Red Hill, Roger's Front Yard, Wailea Point, and Jody's Back Yard are a few more shoreline dives that also have lots of turtle activity. A reminder of some other critters that we see on a regular basis: a variety of moray eels, tropical fish, harlequin shrimp, banded shrimp, white tip reef sharks and lots, lots more. There is always a lot to see in our oceans, especially when you have a great guide to find all those critters hidden amongst the reef for you. May these critters jog your memory of the great dives you had with us and the wondrous dives to be made in the near future. We are proud that Ed Robinson s Diving Adventures is now able to offer our fellow divers the opportunity to increase their d i v i n g knowledge and skills. Our new certification department is owned and operated by an excellent independent BACK TO SCHOOL instructor - Ms. Lynn Allen. Ed has always been an advocate of continuing education in I m writing to let you know of the very positive and rewarding experience I had recently as a student in your SCUBA Open Water Certification course. Lynn Allen conducted the academic, confined water and open water instruction in a personable, efficient, an extremely professional manner. B. Addis 11/14/95 Call for more information. the diving industry. He is pleased with the additional options Lynn provides for our loyal divers and to our future fellow divers. Whale Season has begun. First sighting of our beloved Humpback whales was on Nov 27. Although we heard them during a dive on the 24th.

4 Who's Who - Up Close and Personal Byrd Gleason - Boat Operations Manager His management skills mixed in with the perfect balance of people skills, allows him to provide the highest level of service for our divers. And at the same time provide a working environment that is enjoyable to be in. Many of you who have chosen to dive with us year after year, enjoying our nonexistent rate of turn over, which is rare and a direct result of our closeness as a diving family, and more so to the great management and leadership skills that Byrd brings to the mix. Steve Wright - Divers who join us for our weekly Thursday sunset, night dive charter can count on Captain Steve s unsurpassed night diving experience to make their trip exciting. Steve is also quite an accomplished u/w photographer. Many of his days off are spent on his Boston Whaler, Seadiver (yep, the original) photographing and exploring. Then he spends his nights as the drummer in a local band. Roger Pannier - After many years of service to the company, Roger still Captains Mana Kai two to three times a week. Divers are always requesting to go on Roger Days they anxiously await his radiant smile, and love of the ocean. His enthusiasm, and joy of diving is sooooo contagious! Known as our Energizer Bunny because year after year, He keeps diving and diving and diving!! Paul Reid- Our newest crew is Paul's new dive buddy, Emma! The love of his life just celebrated her 1st birthday. She was named after two Queens, Emma and Elizabeth. He often brings her to company meetings to give her opinion, usually she s under the opinion that we don t carry enough milk in the fridge. Congratulations to Paul for obtaining his Captain s license! Billy Finch - Better known as FROGMAN for his uncanny ability to find those hard to find critters. Our divers say that he must be the fastest draw underwater, he seems to have a personal relationship with the rare marine life on Maui. They always seem to jump right into his vision. He says it s his skill and knowledge. The other guides seem to think it s plain luck!! When he s not in the water Billy transforms from FROGMAN to HOGMAN aboard his newly acquired Harley. Kim Gleason - She is one of our most patient and knowledgeable guides. She brings to each charter her extensive knowledge of the marine life, and her ability to make even newly certified divers feel at home in the ocean. She shares her knowledge freely, L to R. Top to Bott: Glenn, Paul R., Cindy, Paul B., Ronda, Byrd, Rene, Kim, Lynn, Billy, Roger, Steve, Hollis. and is always looking to be of service to our customers. She is our only female RIGDRIVER (the one that trailers SDII down Kihei Road to the launch ramp.) As she cruises down the highway, it s not rare to hear a whistle or two for our very own WAHINE TRUCKER. Rene Umberger- Rene is one of our most valuable assets. As an experienced instructor, she brings the patients and care that it takes to personalize the charters according to our divers interest and ability. Renee gets teased by the crew for her new underwater friends - the cleaner shrimps at Marty s Reef. She allows them to clean her teeth! (Maybe she is trying to save $ at the dentist office?) Glenn Brown - He has worked for the company for about three years. He started in our business office, and recently added his talents to our charters. He was very pleased when Byrd decided to give him a couple boat days a week. Divers consistently comment on his enthusiasm and his truly caring personality. Our veteran crew know that when they have surface interval time to kill, one of Glenn's fascinating dive stories will be sure to thrill! Cindy Knapman - For five years Cindy's cheery voice has answered the phones in our office, and recently she gained her divemaster status and took over the popular Eco-Snorkel program at our Four Seasons Resort operation. Sadly (for us) she has decided to go back to school and will soon be leaving. It will be hard to find a replacement as great as she has been. Ronda Pacheco - Office Manager & Travel Specialist You may not realize it, but you have most likely met Ronda - on the phone. This beautiful Maui girl is our Office Manager and Travel Specialist. She brings to ERDA her diverse business skills, high energy and enthusiasm! Ronda was a key participant in the intitial organization of the Four Seasons' scuba concession. Currently she and Sue are organizing our new in-house travel company to service our divers travel needs. Ronda is also an enthusiastic diver and can talk "diver talk" with the best of us. She is your first link in receiving the kind of attention you have come to expect with ERDA. Paul Beattie - Paul and Byrd went to Connecticut high schools a few miles apart, but it took working at ERDA to get them together. Paul learned about the ocean from the deck of a sportfishing boat. Already an accomplished angler and captain, he drifted into the snorkel and dive boat industry and soon traded his fishing poles for scuba tanks. Now he spends more time under water than on the bridge, which suits him just fine. ERDA's customers now enjoy the fresh angle he brings to his reef tours.

5 UP CLOSE, Continued The Robinson Family Hollis Toal - We want to give a special thanks to a man you will never meet underwater. Hollis performs a job as important to the crew, as the crew's job is to our customers. The dive business doesn't start and stop at the dock. There are hours of maintenance, tank filling, and preparation that keep the boats running day after day. Hollis is a gentle man, with a kind heart, that doesn't mind working in the background to take care of the less glamourous details that make the operation run smoothly. Thanks Hollis. Koki - Our new "Aloha" dog is an energetic Shih Tzu puppy named Koki. He greets everyone at the office with his adorable face, bubbly personality and warm Aloha. Scuba Center Four Seasons Resort Ed Robinson Everyone wonders, does this man even exist? How old is he (many guess 70!) Yes he does exist and he is 49 years old. Ed worked on dive boats every day for several decades, until the business started to expand. He now oversees the daily operations of the business and wishes he could spend more time underwater doing what he loves best: underwater photography. Ed's pictures continue to be published around the world in an array of articles, magazines, post cards and books. His latest accomplishment has been creating the web page for ERDA. It is ever changing and very interesting. It is also a great showcase of some of Ed's u/w images, in the "slide show". Come check it out - it's only a moment away - at the end of your fingertips. Sue Robinson Sue has been with Ed, running the dive business for over 13 years. Her role has changed from Captain/Dive Master to helping Ed run the business on a daily basis. Over the past year Sue has organized the Eco-Snorkel Program at the Four Seasons Resort. Recently she has taken up u/w photography and a natural talent she is. She returned from New Guinea and Soloman Islands last year with many outstanding images, some of which Ed's photo agent accepted with enthusiasm. Congratulations to Sue! Over the past year Ed & Sue have been busy expanding Ed Robinson s Diving Adventures. We now operate the Scuba Center at the Four Seasons Resort, in Wailea. Opening date was April 1,1996 and the reviews from the hotel staff and guests have been great! We provide Scuba instruction and certification, beach dives, scooter dives and a special "Eco-Snorkel" educational program for snorkelers. If you are interested in any of these services, our phone number at the Four Seasons Resort is ext The Scuba Center staff add a varied accumulation of experience. Our senior instructor, Rob Lohle, has been instructing at the resort for over four years. Eric Edwards was previously a manager and instructor at one of the local dive shops. Elisa Junqueira has spent the last three years working on boats and hotel operations as a scuba instructor. Cindy Knapman acquired her divemasters this past summer and has been leading our Eco-Snorkel Program. Sue and Ed also work several days a week at the hotel, leading the snorkel program and overseeing the daily operations. We feel very fortunate to have such a professional, experienced staff heading up this extension of ERDA. Please stop by and check us out.

6 The Ultimate Dive Package Design your own Ultimate Dive Package Three (or more) days of diving at different sites, plus a discounted rate! Ø Daily... Molokini and/or So. Maui Ø Sundays, Tuesdays & Fridays... 3 Tank Adventure Ø Wednesdays...Lanai Island or So. Maui Ø Thursdays... Sunset/Night Dive Ø Sundays & Tuesdays... Free Buoyancy Workshop (on request) Join us for three or more days of diving and experience the diverse diving that only Ed Robinson's Diving Adventures can offer. Plus, you save 10% off the total cost of your dives.* The more you dive with us the more creative we become, as we strive to share a diverse selection of the best dive sites Maui has to offer. Your voice is important in determining which sites we dive each day. So challenge us! Let us show you why we can say "Our reputation speaks for itself - ask around." We are happy to work with you in designing your Ultimate Dive Package, just ask. Larger group arrangements are available. Naturally, all dive sites are weather permitting. 10% OFF (with three or more days of diving) FEAR of Travel Arrangements WE CAN HELP! Ronda is WORKING HARD SO YOU CAN RELAX (*Discount does not extend to other group members who do not dive all three days) GREAT DIVING ACCOMMODATIONS HOW CAN WE CAR RENTALS AIRFARE HELP YOU? Just like the service you receive on our dive charters, we are here to service you before you arrive on Maui. Our office is now equipped to help you find that special accommodation that "best" suits your life-style and budget. Our local knowledge and helpful, friendly attitude will help you plan the best trip of your life! Ronda handles this department in the office and is available Mon. - Fri. 8:00a.m. - 3:30p.m. February issue of Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine reported the results of their readers survey. WE WERE VOTED #1 DIVE OPERATION in the Indo-Pacific and our crew were rated in the top ten in the WORLD! Now our goal is to continue living up to such recognition. Come experience our crew doing their stuff! Condominium Prices Studio $60 - $75 per night / $400 - $500 per week One Bedroom $70 - $100 per night / $450 - $650 per week Two Bedroom $85 - $135 per night / $550 - $900 per week Air Fare Let us check out Air Fare rates for you. We are tapped into some of the best deals available! Car Rental Prices Sub-Compact Luxury $ per week $ per week

7 As you know a couple times a year Ed and I lead group dive trips to different destinations throughout the South Pacific. Last year we traveled to Papua New Guinea and returned with great stories! Our liveaboard vessel was the world s rated #1 liveaboard The Telita. We experienced diving beyond my expectations. I had my list of all the critters I wanted to see, before leaving home, and they came close to finding all of them. Some of INTERNATIONAL DIVE TRAVEL the critters on my list included: ornate pipefish, stonefish, hammerhead sharks, cockatoo leaffish, seahorses, nautilus, gray sharks, pristine fans & sea scapes, ribbon eels, extraordinary cleaning stations, and the list goes on and on. I was carrying a camera this trip and they had a hard time getting me out of the water so the boat could travel to the next dive site. Calm water, great food and a very organized comfortable boat was the icing to our diving experience. Everyone onboard this trip was ecstatic, by the time we left the Telita we were floating instead of walking off the boat. Yes, yes I know your asking yourself when are you going back? I want to go with you next time! So, we are excited to announce our itinerary for the new year of Let's Go Diving! - Sue. THE LAST FRONTIER PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1997 We're heading back to Papua New Guinea in the Fall of 1997, to dive the Northern area of New Ireland. We need 10 people to make this trip happen. If you are seriously interested please call me at or e- mail at "edrob@maui.net". Needless to say, an adventure to the tropical South Pacific can easily be one of the greatest events in your life. So join us and LIVE IT UP! - Sue HOW ARE WE DOING? We would appreciate your evaluation of our performance. Only you can tell us if we are meeting your needs and expectations. Please take a few minutes to complete this form. In return we will send you a 5x7 signed print of an underwater photo taken by Ed Robinson. Thank you once again for diving with us. ERDA S ANNUAL TRIP TO PALAU MAY 1997 Our annual trip to Palau s exotic waters and lush tropical islands is about to happen again. Returning to Palau is like returning home - WHY? Our first dive trip was to Palau, and it turned out to be such a marvelous experience that we ran the next six trips there. Each trip has always been as wonderful as the first. Diving the Rock Islands is consistantly some of the best diving Ed and I have experienced. The richness of marine life, the clear waters, the variety of dive sites - these are what make Palau special. This is why we keep returning to this beautiful place in the Pacific. We will need a minimum of twelve people to make this trip a go. Other popular dive destinations in Micronesia such as Yap, Ponape, Chuuk (Truk) can be added either before or after our group trip to Palau. Call me at or at "edrob@maui.net" for further information and to reserve your space. - Sue. Name Address Capt. Name Date of Trip Trip (Local - Lanai - 3 tank - Night) Boat (Seadiver II - Mana Kai) Phone: Crew Would you like to be on our International Trip List? (Yes - No) Beyond Expectations Good Fair Poor Let me out of here! OFFICE Telephone Service Knowledgeable Willingness to accommodate your needs? Comments BOAT How was checking-in at boat? Crew friendly & helpful? Did crew take a personal interest in your needs? Did you receve adequate help with equipment Adequate/interesting information on marine life? Thorough Safety/dive plan before each dive? Was your divemaster competent underwater? Overall rating of safety for the day Overall rating of how your day went

8 Postage Stamp MAUI DIVING - AT ITS BEST! The General Store T-Shirts in L & XL $25.00 * New Humu T-Shirt: White * Whale/Dolphin T-Shirt: Teal only * Used full wetsuits - $60.00 * Used ScubaPro BC - $ Books signed by Ed Robinson $25.00 * U/W Guide to Hawaii * Sand to Sea Children's book Used equipment is rental gear, in good condition. All sizes available. BC comes with inflator. all prices include shipping & handling or