Booth #16-17
Come by and say hi and get the NEW NAUI Duck!
Saturday March 14th
12:00 – 12:45 – “Avelo Explained: Why Avelo changes everything”
Presenter: Brian A. Verkaart
Abstract:
Curious why the diving world is talking about Avelo? In this session, we break down the Avelo System from physics to practice. See how adding water, rather than air, creates stable neutral buoyancy that stays constant regardless of depth changes, reducing task load and improving safety. Explore the design of the Hydrotank and Jetpack to learn why the weight savings, an average of 30 pounds (13.6 kg), make entries, exits, and surface swims easier. We will also show how Avelo Mode on Shearwater and Scubapro computers uses gas tracking and buoyancy analytics to help divers refine their technique on every dive. Whether you teach new students, create images, or are an expert diver, see how Avelo can enhance safety, extend bottom time, and elevate the entire dive experience.
Presenter Bio:
Brian A. Verkaart is an electromechanical engineering visionary and the Chief Technology Officer at Avelo Labs. Under his leadership, Avelo has pioneered transformative scuba innovations, including advanced buoyancy control systems that enhance accessibility, safety, and the overall diving experience for both recreational and professional divers.
With over 20 years of multidisciplinary expertise spanning aerospace engineering, biomedical R&D, and electromechanical systems, Brian brings a unique fusion of technical mastery and creative problem-solving to the scuba industry. His dedication to redefining dive technology positions him as a key thought leader shaping the future of underwater exploration.
1:00 – 1:45 – “Blending of Breathing Gases”
Presenter - Mark Criasia
Abstract: Mixed gas blending for scuba divers creates breathing gases like Nitrox (more oxygen) for longer dives or Trimix/Heliox (oxygen, nitrogen, and helium) for deep technical dives, reducing narcosis and allowing deeper exploration. Blending involves safely mixing pure gases (Oxygen, Helium, Air) using methods like partial pressure, requiring specialized equipment, training, and analysis (e.g., with a dual-sensor analyzer) to ensure correct composition for depth, managing risks like oxygen toxicity.
Presenter Bio:
Mark earned his first scuba diving certification from NAUI in 1972. Despite primarily diving in Cape Cod and Lake Winnipesaukee, he remained an active diver until 1985. After a hiatus, he re-certified with NAUI and progressed through the ranks, becoming a NAUI Lifetime Instructor in 2012 and a NAUI Course Director in 2019. In 2014, he co-founded The Massachusetts Association of Independent Scuba Instructors. By 2023, he opened M.A.I.S.I. Scuba, a full-service dive shop in Milford, Massachusetts, sponsoring trips along the New England coastline and the Caribbean.
A retired police officer, he has dedicated much of his time to promoting scuba diving. He is a certified NAUI/DAN Safety Instructor with qualifications in Mixed Gas Blending, Full Face Mask diving, Drysuit, Coastal Navigation, and Boating & Seamanship. Additionally, he is a Master Scuba Equipment Repair Technician, having graduated from Hall’s Institute, and holds an Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees.
In 2023, he played a pivotal role in the successful NAUI Northeast Training Conference, the first of its kind incorporating a hybrid learning approach.
2:00 – 2:45 - Recreational Dive Safety
Presenter - Heison Chak
Abstract:
This session examines the leading triggers identified in DAN accident analyses and translates them into practical steps divers can take to reduce risk. We’ll explore common patterns behind incidents, highlight simple countermeasures that strengthen decision making and situational awareness, and outline how small habits can significantly improve safety on every dive.
Presenter Bio: Heison BSR Speaker
3:00 – 3:45 – “The Power of Breathing Simply - A Diver's Exploration of Breath”
Presenters - Kreig Pinkham & Jeannine Russell
Abstract:
In this interactive workshop we’re going to take a moment to catch our breath and dive into the respiratory system from a diver’s perspective. We’ll examine how one complex system unlocks the key to buoyancy, controlling our state of mind, and maintaining basic life functions. Additionally, we will explore some simple breathing exercises that can be used to enhance your breath including diaphragmatic breathing, square breathing, and other forms of yogic breath control. Finally, we’ll introduce the 5 Tibetan Rites – an ancient series of stretches that can easily be incorporated into your daily fitness routine to stretch your chest and improve lung capacity and resiliency.
For full participation, loose fitting clothing and a yoga mat or hotel towel will be helpful.
Presenter Bios: Kreig & Jeannine BSR Speakers
4:00 – 4:45: “Beverly’s Ghost Gear Challenge: A Winter Recovery Mission”
Presenter: Capt. Peter Dickman, Beverly Harbormaster
Abstract:
Lobstering has shaped the North Shore for centuries, transforming lobster from “poor man’s food” into a valuable commercial fishery and a core part of the region’s maritime heritage. As fishing gear evolved from wood to long-lasting wire, new challenges emerged. Lost or abandoned lobster traps can persist on the seafloor for decades, continuing to capture marine life in a process called ghost fishing. This derelict gear harms habitat, affects fisheries, and is a growing concern in harbors worldwide.
Harbormaster Peter Dickman will explain how recent changes in maritime law have made it possible for coastal communities to address this issue and will present plans for the Beverly Harbor Derelict Trap Recovery Project. Funded through a Fishing Trap Removal Assessment and Prevention program grant from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the project will use scuba-based recovery operations over two winter periods to locate, remove, and document abandoned traps, improve marine habitat, and support sustainable reuse or recycling of recovered materials. Learn about this collaborative effort to protect marine life, support sustainable fishing, and honor the working waterfront tradition.
Presenter Bio:
Capt. Peter Dickman has served as Harbormaster for Beverly, Massachusetts, since July 2022 and is a lifelong mariner and Beverly native. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a Master 100-ton Merchant Mariner Credential. Capt. Dickman has hands-on experience in maritime safety, vessel operations, and local waters management, and will be spearheading a derelict fishing trap recovery project in Beverly Harbor. A dedicated environmental steward, he unites local divers, fishermen, students, and organizations to protect and restore the harbor, creating lasting benefits for the marine environment.
Instructed by Heison Chak & David Caldwell
Workshop Overview:
Diver Propulsion Vehicle workshop provides an introduction and familiarization with DPV equipment, basic handling concepts, and core safety considerations in a shallow, controlled environment. The focus is on orientation, ergonomics, awareness, and procedural understanding rather than operational proficiency. This workshop is not a certification course, does not confer open-water DPV competency, and does not replace formal DPV training conducted in appropriate open-water conditions.
Maximum Participants: 8
(Participants need to be able to meet the equipment requirements, see below)
Saturday March 14th 5:00 – 6:00pm – Diver Propulsion Vehicle Workshop / DPV Overview
DPV Overview discussion is open to all
Sunday March 15th 8:00am – 12:00pm - Diver Propulsion Vehicle Pool / In-water Workshop
DPV pool demo fee $45.00, must register in advance (see link below)
Required Equipment –
Single Tank, Back Plate, with Crotch Strap & Single Tank Wing – (Standard BCD are not adequate unless fitted with a crotch strap), Regulator Setup, Wetsuit or Drysuit, appropriate weighting, Mask, Fins.
Instructor: Heison Chak
Heison Chak is a Recreational, Technical, and CCR instructor with over a decade of experience in teaching and mentoring divers. His unwavering commitment to dive safety is exemplified by his extensive contributions to the Ontario Underwater Council (OUC) since 2015, where he served as Director of Sport Safety before being elected President. As a NAUI Course Director and Technical Instructor Examiner, Heison works closely with NAUI HQ to shape the next generation of diving leaders. Through his involvement in Leadership Conferences and the NAUI Mobile Training Team, he focuses on cultivating the skills and leadership qualities of aspiring divers, fostering a culture of safety, excellence, and innovation within the diving community.
Instructor: David Caldwell
David has had a lifelong career in the scuba industry, beginning by working at a dive store while in high school. In 1987 he became an open water scuba instructor where his passion led him to Grenada West Indies leading dives to the noted shipwreck, Bianca C. Returning from the Grenada he became the co-owner and president of the dive store where he first learned how to dive. Following his tenure being a dive store owner David co-founded Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc. NADE focuses on shipwreck diving, exploration, technical diving training and leadership development. Along with being the co-owner he is a co-captain of the dive charter boat Gauntlet and is the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada’s regional manager for NAUI Worldwide.
David continues to follow his passions of cave and mine diving throughout the U.S. and Europe, he has had the privilege to dive some of the worlds notable shipwrecks off the eastern seaboard of the U.S., Canada, South Pacific, Red Sea, South China Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, he has co-led shipwreck discoveries in his local waters, including the USS Nezinscot, Allentown, among many others, and has collaborated on research projects with NOAA in support of exploration in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
Through his position with NAUI Worldwide, David is a Course Director Trainer and Technical Examiner, he is a fellow member of the Explorers Club, associate member of the Boston Sea Rovers. David is also employed as an Assistant Harbormaster for the City of Beverly Massachusetts and is a member of the board of directors for Salem Sound Coast Watch. Parallel to having a career in the dive industry, he’s had an industry career in global product management and application engineering.
Please email gro.i1772881105uan@l1772881105lewdl1772881105acd1772881105 for more information on the NAUI exhibition, seminar schedule or questions on the DPV Demo.
The DoubleTree by Hilton- Boston North Shore is located less than 20 miles from downtown Boston, features fantastic amenities for exhibitors, attendees, and your family members.
https://www.massport.com/logan-airport/getting-to-logan/logan-express/danvers
