Thursday April 5, 6:50pm at Ocean Enterprises – Special guest presentation/slide show/book signing: A Diver's Guide to Southern California's Best Beach Dives by Dale Sheckler, Author, Photographer and Publisher/Editor of California Diving News.
I hope all of you made it to the shops last sale where they were blowing out new O'Neil one and two piece wetsuits for 40.00, with nice dive knives for 9.95 and many other bargains. I understand there will be a tent sale in May. Stay tuned for more details.
I hope you can all make it to the next couple of meetings because we have some interesting guests scheduled. This month we have Dale Sheckler, Editor of California's primary dive magazine, next month we have The Coalition for Enhanced Marine Resouces.
Aside from the rain, conditions seem to be improving, hopefully we can pull off a beach dive this month. – Mark Clausen
Saturday April 14, 8:30am – Meet at La Jolla Cove to dive the best spot. Breakfast to follow.
Back by popular request, a club luncheon. Saturday April 7@ 12:30pm at Onami in Mission Valley. This is an all you can eat restaurant with Japanese, Chinese, Sushi, and desert. Bring your teenagers.
Club jump on dive – Sunday April 22, 7:00am, Lois Ann to the Yukon and 7 Fathom, 2 dives $55.00. Call 800/201-4381 to reserve a spot
Club upcoming charters- June 23, July 14, August 11. A sign up sheet will be at the next meeting. All dives will be 2 tank morning to the destination of our choice, cost will be 48.00 with minimum 14 person load.
The Lois Ann offers club members a discount on open boat trips. Due to heavy demand, they may not be able to offer the discount on all their trips. For more information, call 800/201-4381 or check http://www.loisann.com.
OE is closing at 7 PM for the rest of the winter. I have no idea how they're defining winter. Please get to the meeting a little earlier if you can. If you can't, contact either Mark or I for some alternate arrangements.
The San Diego Association for Lifeguards will be hosting an Aquatic Conference on Tuesday, April 17, from 6:30 - 9:30 PM at the Catamaran Hotel. The conference will provide a forum to bring the aquatic community together on issues such as clean water education and safety. I'll send out more information as it becomes available. If you want to contact the organizers directly, you can e-mail Ed Harris at sdalharris@yahoo.com
The Stephen Birch Aquarium is hosting a diver's dating game fund-raiser on April 12. The dating game will be in the kelp tank at the Stephen Birch Aquarium. There will be hors d'ouvres and drinks beforehand. Cost is a modest $20 per person if you're not a member of the Aquarium. We already have a small, but boisterous group of OES members attending. Come join us. It should be a hoot. For reservations, call 858/534-7336.
The California Coastal Commission has voted to renew the seal refuge near Children's Pool for another 5 years. The Commission staff recommended limiting the refuge to the rock north of Children's Pool. The application was "Approved with conditions." I don't know precisely what this means yet, but will try to keep you informed.
The staff recommendations are on the CCC web site at http://www.coastal.ca.gov/sd/6-00-126.pdf
The report contains several interesting points. San Diego was supposed to conduct studies of the seal populations. They haven't done the necessary studies which were a condition of the original permit. They have also erected barriers which are specifically prohibited by state law. The part I found interesting is that state law specifically gives human access, and sport fishing rights. The burden of proof is on the people who want to deny access.
They also noted that the permanent barrier at Children's Pool is illegal and will be subject of a separate enforcement action by the CCC.
Personally, I'd like to see access to Children's pool restored. The seals have other haul-out places. There aren't very many spots along the coast as well sheltered for kids. This was also an excellent dive site before it was closed.
I went to my first SD Underwater Photo Society pool session. This is a great opportunity to practice all the mechanics of strobe placement, focus, and framing without the difficulties involved in an ocean dive. I highly recommend giving this a try.
OES members can receive discounts on regular OE classes. Members receive $30 off the regular OE price for specialty classes.
Subscriptions to Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine are available through the club for only $10. See Mark Clausen for details.
Club T-shirts are still available for $13.00.
The SDOF is starting a project which will monitor the type of marine life growing on the Yukon. Volunteer divers will examine certain areas of the ship and record their observations.
They held their first training session on March 24th at the Birch Aquarium. 100 divers signed up, and there are 40 more names on a waiting list for a future training session. I was completely amazed at the high turnout and enthusiasm. As an additional perk, local dive boats are offering substantial discounts to the project's divers for Yukon dives.
There's nothing difficult, or glamorous about these observations. It's the silent grunt work of science. You swim along a defined path, and count fish. It literally takes a couple of minutes. You can also take pictures of some predefined squares which will be affixed to the ship. Later on, a different volunteer will count and identify the critters in the square.
By combining hundreds of observations, the scientists will be able to document seasonal, climatic, and man-made changes in the marine life.
This is an important effort to benefit local divers and the marine environment. It's also a new strategy that combines the efforts of amateur data collectors with professional scientists. I've worked on some collaborative efforts involving astronomy. I really enjoyed it and the results were significant. I really hope more OES members will contribute to this project. Contact sdoceans@sdoceans.org if you can volunteer.
The next SDCD meeting is 7PM on April 12th at Marina Village Conference Center, 1936 Quivira Way, Mission Bay
Several people in the club are looking at our next set of trips. We've got some tropical, some local.
I'm looking at Channel Islands or Catalina sometime late summer, or early fall. 3 day trips on the Truth Aquatics boats are great trips; reasonably priced, and very relaxing. If you're interested, please let me know.
Shaun is looking for a tropical destination. Stay tuned for more information.
We've also got lots of trip specials this month.
Laura Mankoff is organizing a trip to Chinchorro Banks in Mexico. Dates: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 thru Wednesday, January 2, 2002 This is an all inclusive (except alcohol) resort. Very laid back. Beautiful accommodations with air conditioning, TV's (no phones), and pool. They have two great boats and Laura will make sure we get the bigger boat. Boats are camera friendly.
Price is $1245 + $100 transportation fee. Its a four hour drive from Cancun to Maya Ha. The resort van picks us up in Cancun. American from Miami is best route.
Price includes all meals, 5 days of diving or land tour (kayaking trip, day trip to one of the ruins). There is one day nothing is planed but a kayak trip would cost $75 per person and includes lunch and a tour of one of the local forts. Air Fare not included. Let Laura know if you want us to get your airfare. The more seats the better fare they can get. (bulk) vs. economy.
Water temp was 78-82 degrees and air was in upper 70's. Very pleasant. Did wear Chammyz on boat, but was never uncomfortable. No hoods or gloves are allowed.
Ten spaces are available. Deposit of $200 is required to hold your space. Deposits are nonrefundable.
Shaun sends the following live-aboard trip info. These sound good too. So many choices, so little money.
THAILAND: Climb aboard the newly built 98-foot, 16 passenger Ocean Rover. This vessel departs from Phuket and sails to the fish-filled waters of the Andaman Sea. Dive the ever changing sites of Richelieu Rock and search for the elusive whale shark, explore the tranquil Similan Islands with beautiful soft corals, rays and prolific fish life, awaken your senses in the energizing waters of the Burma Banks with it's variety of sharks. All cabins have in-suite bathrooms, individually controlled air-conditioning, and portholes or windows. Only 3 spaces left on the May 2-11, 2001 cruise for the incredible price of $2199.
PALAU: Palau has been described as one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World, with 700 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish identified. Palau provides some of the best virgin diving to be found in Micronesia and is ideally suited for the more adventurous diver. Aboard M/V Sun Dancer II, we will be diving the spectacular walls along the barrier reef, including such favorites as Blue Corner, Ngemelis Drop-Off and many other sensational dive sites yet to be charted. Trip dates are May 13-20, 2001. The trip price: $2395 per person, double occupancy, port fee and diving fee are extra.
RED SEA: Spend 10 nights aboard the newly launched, Miss Veena. Dive the best of the Southern Red Sea including Brothers Islands, Zabargad, Rocky Island, St. John's Reef & the reefs of the deep south, including Elphinstone & Sataya Reefs. June 1 - 11, 2001 Only $2195/per person (based on double occupancy). Dates and rate do not include flights and airfare.
Discount airfare is available starting at $1250 from Los Angeles. Add-on fares are available from other destinations.
KONA: Enjoy the beautiful diving off of Kona's western coast on the Kona Aggressor II. The underwater terrain varies from flat coral gardens to rugged cliffs with caves and lava tubes. The marine life ranges from tiny nudibranchs and colorful crabs to schooling barracuda and soaring eagle rays. This variety of life and environment is beautifully illustrated at dive sites such as Rob's Reef, The Hive and Rainbow Reef. Each week aboard the Kona Aggressor II culminates with one of the most spectacular night dives in the world, Manta Ray Village. Huge mantas congregate off the stern of the Kona Aggressor II to feed on plankton in the moon light. It is spectacular! Of course, you'll have the option to dive up to 5 times a day on most days. Join our charter August 18-25, 2001. The trip price: $1895 per person, double occupancy, does not include airfare.
Ask about our discount airfares from most major US cities.
For more information contact:
Adventure Express
Whitney Cochran and Annie Taylor
800-443-0799
www.adventureexpress.com
info@adventureexpress.com
CAYMAN: Hammerheads is sponsoring a trip to the Grand Cayman Island, July 14-21. Price is $1049 ($1139 from Houston) and includes 7 nights lodging, 5 days of diving with Bob Soto's, theme parties, island tour, and sunset cruise. Contact Lydia Eldridge at 858-616-6408 for more information.
For Sale: I'm cleaning out my dive closet. All these items are in very good condition: 1 pair of Wenoka Reeflex fins with battens and extraction tool, size small - $25; 1 pair of Reef Marine Quasar fins, a plastic version of Scubapro Jet fins, size small, $15; Aquashot II camera housing, $20; 2 5mm hoods with bib, one large, one medium, $5/ea. Contact Dave Ambrose at 858/679-7817 or stargazer1@cox.net
Renewal rates are $20 single; $30 for a family. Send your renewal to Mark Clausen; 1862 Willow Way; Vista, CA 92083.
Surf and diving conditions: 619/221-8824
Club events: Mark Clausen at 760/727-6181 or e-mail at mark@oceanexplorers.org.
Newsletter Editor - Dave Ambrose at 858/679-7817 or e-mail stargazer1@cox.net.
SDCD Hotline 619/687-1492
Ocean Enterprises 858/565-6054