...See Us at Booth #619 during the OUR WORLD UNDERWATER SHOW 2/19/09

Come visit the Ultimate Diver Challenge Booth #619 at the Our World Underwater Show from February 20-22, 2009. Located at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL, show hours are Friday 5:00 PM to 10 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM to 4 PM. Hope to see you there.

...See Us at Booth #60 during the TEXAS DIVE SHOW 1/24/09

Come visit the Ultimate Diver Challenge Booth #60 at the Texas Dive Show on Jan 24th and 25th, 2009. Located at Reliant Arena in Houston, Texas, show hours are Saturday 10:00 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM to 4 PM. Hope to see you there.

...Miss Scuba will be sponsoring a team at the 2009 UDC 1/2/09

Miss Scuba is calling for entries. We will choose two girls to represent Miss Scuba. Send us an e-mail that tells us why you should be chosen to represent Miss Scuba at the 2009 Ultimate Diver Challenge in Cozumel, Mexico! The two girls who will be chosen to represent Miss Scuba will be outfitted with our t-shirts, shorts, hoodies and will receive Miss Scuba luggage tags.

...See Us at Booth #10 during the FLORIDA DIVE SHOW 11/14/08

Come visit the Ultimate Diver Challenge Booth #10 at the Florida Dive Show on Nov 15th and 16th, 2008. Located at the South Florida Fair Grounds, show hours are Saturday 10:30 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 10:30 AM to 4 PM. Hope to see you there.

...DEMA SPECIAL: REGISTER EARLY for UDC 2009 and SAVE! 10/21/08

Come visit us at the Ultimate Diver Challenge Booth #4944. Submit your diver participation application at DEMA from Oct 22-25 and receive a $50 discount on registration fees to attend UDC 2009. Participation is easy, choose from our packages or choose your own accommodations!

* Entry Fees - $150 participation entry fee if postmarked no later than May 15, 2009 if staying at the host hotels. If staying elsewhere the participation fee is $200. After May 16, 2009, entry fees will be $200 per dive participant staying at host resort or $250 staying elsewhere.

...2008 UDC Photo Challenge Winners

The Photo Challenge Winners consisting of the imagery taken by Jodi Swenson (overall winner), Kim Rogers and Conrad Rucker were judged by Nancy and Larry Boucha. Their artistic photos reflect the beauty both underwater and above water, in and around Cozumel. Please take a look at these breathtaking and awe inspiring images.

...2008 Discover Cozumel Race

The Discover Cozumel Race -- A Land Challenge that got the hearts pumping, taxis racing, tempers flying and all walked away with an unforgettable experience as the divers were exposed to some of the best kept secrets of Cozumel along with some of the most popular things to do in Cozumel. read more.

...THE COZUMEL ULTIMATE DIVER CHALLENGE TEAM OF 2008

THE WINNERS INCLUDE (TOP FIVE IN ORDER)

1. JAIME MEZO, PADI DIVER FROM COZUMEL, MX
2. KELLY PEPPEL, PADI DIVER FROM BARNESVILLE, MN
3. CECILIA RUCKER, PADI DIVER FROM CONYERS, GA
4. GUY SWENSON, PADI DIVER FROM BARNESVILLE, MN
5. KIM ROGERS, SSI DIVER FROM DENVER CO

The ULTIMATE DIVER TEAM includes the following winners as well:
Jeremy Anschel, PADI diver from Cozumel, MX
Conrad Rucker, PADI diver from Conyers, GA
Sarah Smith, NAUI diver from Woodland, CA
Robert Javan, NAUI diver from Woodland, CA
Gustavo Ortega, PADI diver from Cozumel, MX

Two and a half years ago, I began the adventure of creating the Ultimate Diver Challenge! This has truly been a long journey and challenging as well. Although I did not take the challenge -- I and my volunteers had many. The week was full of work but work that provided the opportunity for divers to show off diving skills mastered to make them the best of the best in scuba diving. Through the created challenges that were designed to test the knowledge, buoyancy, navigation and search/stress/rescue skills the divers in attendance displayed passion and precision. Various dive teams from around the United States and Mexico participated in 3 challenges over the course of three days. The top five dive teams were selected from the results of those challenges. Then, all ten divers competed individually in three challenges for the chance to earn the title of the Ultimate Diver 2008.

I can't say enough about the fun and excitement that divers displayed taking the challenges! The pictures and videos will all be posted prior to DEMA this October -- I invite you to visit the site frequently as we are in the process of updating details surrounding next years Ultimate Diver Challenge and we invite you to join us either to take the challenge or as a fun diver and/or volunteer!

...Congratulations UDC Divers

Congratulations are in order to the following divers who participated in the 2008 Ultimate Diver Challenge: Brian Bowers, Harry Greenstreet, Jessica Greenstreet, Robert Javan, Steve Johnson, Dave Kendall, Mark Osgood, Jim Pearson, Cathy Phillips, Sarah Smith, Jessica Smith, Robert Trussell, Parker West, Kimberly West, Kim Rogers, Jeremy Anschel, Jaime Mezo, Gustavo Ortega, Pete Gannon, Eric Stone, Cecilia Rucker, Conrad R. Rucker, Nancy Boucha, Larry Boucha, Erik Phariss, Christy Peppel, Kelly Peppel, Guy Swenson, Jodi Swenson, David Bertrand, Pamelia Bertrand, Alicia Bertrand, Nathan Bertrand, Alexis Bertrand, Julia Robbins, Tina Nelson, Andy Vlassis, Jim Wemple and Kim Grissinger.