Ocean Explorers
Society
June 2002
Sponsored by Ocean Enterprises
Contents
Monthly
Meeting
Thursday June 6, 2002 6:50PM-- at Ocean Enterprises. . . Fiji shark
video, Curacao slides and report, and of course, the raffle. Meet
at Appleby's for dinner at 5:30.
From
the President
Welcome divers! For those of
you who have not experienced the liquid realm for some time, all
I can say is go get wet. Now, it is an obvious advantage diving
in warm waters, but the fact remains that diving is an uplifting
and escapist sport. On our recent trip to Curacao, the vacation
began on the first dive. We arrived at the resort about 3:00pm
after about 20 hours of grueling airplane/airport fun. During
that evolution we had only been given mixed chip bags and soft
drinks.
After checking in at the resort and receiving an orientation, several of us decided to jump right in. It was the right choice, as I quickly forgot about my job, airports, telephones and all I normally deal with. There was no fatigue…no problem. The next great challenge for me is to get back into local waters as soon as possible.
We'll give the run down on the trip at the meeting and all those who went have decided we are going back next year. The club members at the last meeting unanimously voted to donate $100.00 to the SDOF Mooring Fund to help maintain the buoys out at wreck alley. The check has been sent and I would like to thank all those who agreed that this is a worthwhile cause.
On a different subject, one of our previous club members, Brian Kinley, has come back to the states from Grand Cayman due to a serious medical problem. We will have a get well card at the meeting for all to sign, our thoughts and best wishes are with Brian…we hope for the best!
See you at the meeting -- Mark Clausen
Shore
Diving
Saturday June 22, 2002 -- Meet
at La Jolla Cove at 8:30am to dive the best spot, breakfast will
follow.
If you want to go dive, let me know and I'll send out an e-mail to the rest of the club. If you don't have email acess, please let me know and I will be happy to send out an invitaion for you.
Boat
Dives
No formal club trips planned
for this month. The Lois Ann is running regular dive trips. You
can find their schedule at http://www.loisann.com/schedule.html
Flotsam
File this under be careful what
you wish for: There was once
a young man who, in his youth, professed his desire to become
a great writer. When asked to define "great" he said,
"I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff
that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that
will make them scream, cry, howl in pain and anger!" He now
works for Microsoft, writing error messages.
Killer Weed -- Caulerpa taxifolia is a non-native seaweed that has the potential to kill most of the sealife along our coast. It was found two years ago in Agua Hedionda Lagoon. The people in charge of the eradication project think they killed all the caulerpa in the area and are now monitoring the area to be sure. There is another infestation in Huntington Harbor which is also being eliminated. While we're out diving, we should keep our eyes out for any signs of Caulerpa Taxifolia. If you see anything suspicious, report it to Fish and Game, or the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Project Pacific is coordinating reports from divers who are looking for the weed. There's a simple survey you can fill out and send to SCATT. See http://www.projectpacific.org/caulerpa_taxifolia.html for pictures, information, and a link to the survey.
SCUBA Show 2002 - The SCUBA show is once again set for the Long Beach Convention Center on June 29 and 30. We'll probably organize an informal carpool this year. They'll have the introductory scuba pool there again, more exhibitors than last year, and seminars too. Admission will be $9 and we have $1 discount coupons available. If you haven't been to this show, you should join us. We usually stop at the Macaroni Grill for dinner on the way back.
Coastal Cleanup Day 2002 has been set for September 21st. The statewide cleanup will be held from 9am-noon. In an effort to make this year's event even bigger and better for San Diego County, I Love a Clean San Diego has joined forces with San Diego BayKeeper. They will be coordinating cleanup sites at both inland and coastal locations throughout the county. Inland sites have been added all over the state for this important cleanup to emphasize the fact that even a piece of trash dumped into our inland waterways can make its way to the ocean. Please contact Sarah Adams at volunteers@ilacsd.org for more information.
The San Diego 3 R's are back - 3R's is an in-the-water snorkeling tour, jointly sponsored by the San Diego City Lifeguard Service and the San Diego Council of Divers. I've gone to a couple of these. they were a load of fun and very informative.
|
June 1 |
Shell Beach (Seal Rock) 1000 Coast Blvd. (Ocean St.) |
|
June 22 |
La Jolla Cove 1150 Coast Blvd. (La Jolla Cove steps) |
|
July 6 |
North Bird Rock 6000 Camino de la Costa |
|
July 27 |
Goldfish Point (La Jolla Caves) 1325 Coast Blvd. (old Shell Shop) |
|
Aug. 10 |
Marine Street 300 Marine Street |
|
Sept. 7 |
Hospital Point 400 Coast Blvd (south of Cuvier) |
If you would like to be added to the 3R's e-mail list, send a blank e-mail to: rocks-rips-reefs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
They use the e-mail list to send out reminders and site information 2 or 3 days before each session and to let people know of weather-related cancellations.
New Yukon Map -- A laminated map of the Yukon deck plan has recently been produced by Franko, the fellow who does those dive site maps. It is roughly 6 1/4 by 9 1/4 inches, showing an exploded deck plan of the Yukon on its side. Looks like you could bring it along on a dive (I have one in my hand). Color illustrations fo local fish and a few invertebrates are on the backside. Should be available at your local dive shop or at http://www.frankosmaps.com/
He also has a laminated map for La Jolla Shores.
Speaking of the Yukon -- Sometimes we need a reminder that sinking these ships is an inexact science. The Spiegel Grove was scheduled to be sunk by explosives, turned turtle (capsized) and sank on her own. Thankfully, nobody was injured, but the boat is now sitting on her superstructure with one end awash.. She will have to be repositioned so she doesn't consititute a navigational hazard, but as of this writing, nobody has had any good luck, or ideas. For more info: http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/05/17/navy.ship.reef.ap/index.html
Los Angeles 3R's -- The Greater Los Angeles Council of Divers (GLACD) and the Los Angeles County Underwater Instructor's Association (LACUIA) have joined forces to produce an entire series of courses designed to safely introduce divers to popular, local dive sites.
Participants are required to wear a full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, and fins. A weight belt with no more than half of the normal diving weight is optional. Tanks and regulators are not allowed during the program, but may be brought along if you plan to make a dive after the class is over. After completing the in-water practice, we finish the session with a noon time Bar-B-Que, so bring along a picnic lunch and plan on socializing afterwards.
SCUBA certification is not required in order to participate in the 3R's courses!
They teach the 3R's at six different challenging dives sites each year:
|
May 11th |
Leo Carillo |
|
June 8th |
Cabrillo Beach |
|
July 13th |
Reef Point |
|
August 10th |
Point Dume |
|
September 14th |
Marineland |
|
October 12th |
White Point |
Saturday classes begin at 8:00 a.m.
Arrive and check in at 7:45 a.m.
Courses are free!
When registering for class, we request a donation of $5.
No donation requested if you have GLACD membership.
Pre-Registration will help us determine proper staffing for the event.
You can Pre-register by calling:
Greater LA Council of Divers
(310) 379-5681 (please call in the evening, calls will not be returned during the day)
Or by writing to (please pay at the event, prepayment is not necessary):
Greater LA Council of Divers
P.O. Box 6255
Torrance, CA 90504
Underwater Film Festival -- The Diving Locker is very pleased to announce the 3rd Annual San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition scheduled for Friday and Saturday evening, October 18 & 19, 2002 at the new state-of-the-art, large-format theater at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park! Last year's Film Exhibition at the San Diego Natural History Museum, was an overwhelming success and we hope this year's will be even better!
Each evening's program will consist of fourteen to fifteen short films of the undersea world, submitted by both accomplished professional and aspiring amateur underwater filmmakers and videographers.
We hope that you will put together a film of five minutes or less of your best underwater footage, and submit it to us so that it is RECEIVED no later than August 1, 2001 for possible selection for the San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition. Submissions are limited to three films/videos per filmmaker.
Films should have a soundtrack that compliments the visual footage and may include narration; although often narration can detract from the quality of the film and so should be well written and spoken if used at all. Filmmakers are also encouraged to consider narrating their works in person at the showing if your work is selected. No film should be longer than five minutes in length; and at least 50% of the footage must be underwater. Please insure that no part of your film infringes upon any rights, whether music, visual footage, personal, copyright, or any other legal right.
We are accepting mini-DV, VHS and Hi 8 tapes for consideration.
Please submit a master copy if you are submitting a VHS tape;
or contact us if you have questions regarding the submission of
VHS masters, or other formats not mentioned above. To have tapes
returned after the Film Exhibition, please include a proper sized
self-addressed, stamped envelope with proper postage. The San
Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition and the Diving Locker are not responsible
for lost or damaged tapes.
Selection decisions will be made by the 1st of September by judges
who are renowned in the fields of visual arts and media. No entrant
will be allowed to participate in the actual judging of the films/videos
submitted for consideration.
Please send your entries to:
UnderSea Film Exhibition
c/o Chuck Nicklin, The Diving Locker
1020 Grand Ave.
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 272-1120
Please include your name, address, phone #, e-mail address, film
name and length, and a brief bio.
Photo Op
The Northern California Underwater Photographic Society will
be hosting its 21st annual California Beach Dive Photographic
Competition in Monterey on June 8th and 9th.
Entry fees are $50 prior to May 29th and $65 on the day of
the event. The entry fee includes: one roll of Kodak EV100VS film,
processing, an official T-Shirt featuring the new event logo,
BBQ group dinner Saturday night with a no-host bar and slide show
at the Monterey Senior Center. Plus, there will be approximately
$20,000 in prizes, sponsored in part by Kodak Professional, Reef
and Rainforest, Backscatter Underwater Photo and Video, Oceanic
Worldwide, Ikelite, Dive Discovery, Baja Expeditions, and many
more.
This event is a wonderful opportunity to scuba dive, take photos
and socialize with other photographers. For anyone
unfamiliar with the California Beach Dive Photographic Competition,
registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. Entrants will be
given a packet, including a roll of 36-exposure Kodak E100VS film.
The exposed roll must be turned no later than 4:00 p.m. Only beach
entry is allowed in and around the Monterey Marine Sanctuary.
There will be a Novice, Amateur and Open category. Subjects
will be Macro, Marine Life, Diver, and Wide-Angle.
Slide selection will be held Sunday morning at Monterey Peninsula
College beginning at 7:30 a.m., followed by judging from 8:30
a.m. - Noon. The awards presentation for best photos will run
from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
To download the entry form and rules, go to:
http://www.ncups.org/bdpc2002.htm. For more information, please
contact Gil Zeimer (gil@zeimer.com) at 415-491-1058.
Checks should be made payable to NCUPS and mailed to:
NCUPS, P.O. Box 1168, Alameda, CA 94501.
Diving the
Internet
This is a really cool video of Mola Molas hanging out under a
kelp paddie in the open ocean. It's long, so you either need to
be really patient, ask me for a CD, or have a fast connection.
It's a QuickTime movie clip. Check it out at: http://www.earthwindow.com/molamovie2.html
San Diego
Council of Divers
The next SDCD meeting is Tuesday,
June 11, at 6:00 pm at Rock Bottom Brewery. Don't have a speaker,
but you can check their events
calendar, or subscribe to the SDCD mailing
list.
Curacao- We set the dates; May 9-16. Cost should be around $1500.00 which includes 1 week lodging (dbl occupancy) at Captain Don's Habitat, 6 days of 2 tank diving, airport transfers, taxes and service charges, daily buffet breakfast, unlimited shore diving, tanks, weights and a free buoyancy workshop. See mark if you want to go on this trip. There may be a few openings left.
La Bufadora - The Dive Animals Scuba Club organizes several Camp & Dive trips south of the border. The weekend of Cinco de Mayo (Friday night May 3 - Sunday May 5) is the first trip of the year. They have the reserved the dormitory-style bunkhouse at Dale's Dive Center on the cliffs overlooking the boat launch. Adjacent camping is available for those that prefer a bit more privacy or just like to camp!
This trip is open to all divers (and non-divers) that want to go. For those of you with non-diving spouses/friends/kids/whatever, this is a weekend trip that they'll equally enjoy. There's plenty to do here (hiking, horseback riding, snorkeling, shopping at the nearby village, partying in Ensenada, napping), or nothing at all. (some compadres just bring a beach chair and a book!) Last year we had 30-40 people on each trip. It was a blast!
Cost of admission is $30 (covers 2 nights of lodging, parking, breakfast, necessities like toilet paper, firewood, etc.). Diving is $30 per day for 2-tank dives. Add on tank rentals, air fills, gas, meals, sodas, cervesa and margaritas, and you'll have a dive adventure to another country for about $120 for the entire weekend (depending on how much cervesa you buy!)
And the diving is incredible...! Check out the website http://www.diveanimals.com "Where we dive" - La Bufadora and also "Club Photos 2001" for detailed info and photos of our last few trips.
Sign up now with diveanimal@pacific-ocean.com. The 15 bunkhouse spots go early. $30pp deposit required to hold your spot.
Dates of future trips:
June 21-23
Aug 2-4
Sept 13-15
Channel Islands - Dive trip aboard the"Vision"-July 14-16 Cost is $495.00 Trip includes all meals and non alcoholic beverages and air fills. 25% deposit required to hold spot. Call (805)962-1127 to book.
Other trips - We're also in the planning stage for Grand Cayman, and Palau. Cayman Madness runs from August to October. Palau is in the works for 2003.
Dacor Extreme Plus regulator with octopus; excellent condition, but needs its annual rebuild. No console, but I can supply an SPG. $200 takes it. Call Dave Ambrose at 858-679-7817 or email me at stargazer1@cox.net
Membership
Renewal rates are $20 single;
$30 for a family. Send your renewal to Mark Clausen; 1862 Willow
Way; Vista, CA 92083.
OES
Info
OES members can 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.
For more information: