Hoya, friends of Bird’s Underwater!  

It’s been quite a while since we’ve emailed most of you.  We’re trying to keep our Facebook page active, instead.  

Firstly, US Fish and Wildlife has finally unveiled their new 15 year management plan.  There have been NO unpleasant surprises.  They have enlarged a few sanctuaries and designated a few springs to be “emergency sanctuaries” in the event of unusually cold weather.  Yes, the good viewing areas you all know and love are still open to the public.  Three Sisters, King Spring, Jurassic Spring, and Magnolia Spring are all still available for us to use.   

Secondly, Bird’s Underwater has been prominent in helping to organize M.E.T.A., the Manatee Eco Tourism Association.  We wanted to promote uniform, ethical guidelines for conducting manatee tours throughout our industry.  In slightly less than one year from it’s inception, M.E.T.A. has managed to garner the membership of slightly more than 50% of all the permit holders in the manatee industry.  We hold monthly meetings here we have guest speakers from USFWS, FWC, University or Gainesville, and USGS, helping to further educate ourselves about the manatee biology and the laws associated with their protection.   

The owners, Bill and Diana, have adopted Michael from the Philippines.  He got here about a month ago now and is doing great.  Stop by our Facebook page @http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=363388557055272&set=a.362521830475278.81829.187710514623078&type=3to see a picture of Michael.  Be sure to leave him a cheery “hi” while you’re there.   

We now carry GoPro cameras. They’re very neat cameras and do terrific video both above and below water with their new flat lens ports, which are finally available.  There are a tremendous number of videos you can see on or their website, www.gopro.com  or on YouTube.  Check them out!   

Finally, in an effort to better serve you, we’ve been conducting some ongoing and extensive product knowledge seminars for all the employees here in the shop.  We want to thank David Rhea and ScubaPro for all the time they’re investing in us.   

Some of you have asked us about Groupon.  We don’t use Groupon and we won’t unless they change their business model.  As it stands they would require us to discount our tours by a minimum or 50% AND give them 50% of the balance, leaving us with 25% of a normal tour.  That would be a great way to go out of business.  I’m seeing that, at least locally with manatee tours, people buying Groupon tours are definitely getting what they paid for ;-(  

As an incentive to get you to LIKE us on Facebook, we’re going to give away a FREE manatee tour or kayak rental for 5 new people who join the event until the end of the month. Go to our page @ www.facebook.com/birdsunderwaterdivecenterand join the event we just set up there now! 

Thanks from all of us to all of you, 

Bill & Diana, Marty & Chris, Rhonda, John.