Ocean Explorers Society
August 2003
Sponsored by Ocean Enterprises

 

Contents
 OES Information

Monthly Meeting
Note the date change!
Thursday, August 14th, 7:00 PM in the upstairs classroom at Ocean Enterprises. Ocean Enterprises is now open until 7:30PM. Those of you who couldn't make it earlier can get in now.

Just for Fun Lunch
August 16th, 12:30 at Onami in Mission Valley. It's been entirely too long since we've done lunch at Onami. For those who've never been there, it's a nice all-you-can-eat buffet with Chinese, Japanese, Sushi, and desert. Those of us with perpetually hungry teenagers appreciate the unlimited food.

Club Diving
No formal shore dives planned this month. Diving has been very good. Send an email to the list if you want to dive after work or on the weekend.

The Lois Ann is doing a lot of Yukon dives this month. We'll put something together at the meeting.

Flotsam
Windows Virus Attack Imminent - I'm not normally one to push the panic button, but I think this alert is serious enough to warrant widespread attention. There is a flaw in Windows that will allow a malicious person to enter your computer, take it over, and either steal all your confidential data, or use your computer to attack another system. Cable modem and DSL users are at particular risk.

If you're running some version of Microsoft Windows, you need to update your computer now. Click the Start button at the lower left corner of your screen, then click Windows Update item. You'll be prompted through the update process. Install all the updates, except perhaps for the new version of Windows Media Player. You may have to repeat this process 4 or 5 times to get all the updates.

Tools to exploit this weakness are propagating about the Internet and will probably be unleashed upon the public within a few weeks.

By the way, if you are on cable or DSL and haven't installed a hardware firewall, I'd advise you get one ASAP. Feel free to contact me if you need some help.

Dude, you gotta go dive - I've been doing after-work dives with friends and fellow OES members.The weather and the water are warm, the crowds aren't too bad on the weekdays, and the vis is usually decent. We all moved here for exactly this time of year, so please - go enjoy it. Better yet, send the OES list an email and we'll come enjoy it with you.

The 3R's program is in full swing. I just attended the session at North Bird Rock. This looks like a very nice dive site that I'll explore in the future. It's well sheltered from the northwest swell which could make it a very nice site in the fall and winter. Entry is very easy, and you can access down to good footing via a stairway. There is a tiny sand beach that gives way to mudstone reefs. This is not a deep dive, maybe 18 feet at high tide. A single tank will get you an hour of diving.

There will be another DUI demo days here in San Diego. It's slated for September 27-28 at La Jolla Shores. If you didn't go last year, make sure you go this year. Everyone I talked to, including myself, had a great time. $5 covers drysuits and stuff, expert advice, commemorative hat, and lunch. Another $8 gets you dinner. I've got my tickets and am looking forward to some fun and easy diving. Just don't blame me if you really really really have to get a drysuit after diving one.

OE Sale coming - Ocean Enterprises is having a sale August 15-17, and maybe on the 14th too. I hear there are going to be some really good deals. Keep an eye out for the flyer, or visit their web site about a week from now. They may have some special web-only deals again.

Chocolate Lobster Dive The Cabrillo Aquarium is holding their annual chocolate lobster dive on September 20. Divers search for plastic packed chocolate lobsters. Each lobster is numbered and good for a prize. Some of these prized are very nice indeed. All proceed benefit the Cabrillo aquarium in San Pedro. The dive itself is a Cabrillo Beach. Entry fee is $40 or $70 for two buddies.Visit http://members.cox.net/chocolatelobster/ for more information, and entry forms or the Cabrillo aquarium at http://www.cabrilloaq.org/.

The next Ocean Enterprises buddy event will be August 9th around 3 p.m. at La Jolla Cove. Ocean Enterprises will supply the BBQ, hamburgers, and hotdogs. Werner Kurn, the owner of Ocean Enterprises, will be joining in as well as some instructors, dive masters, and store staff. Please bring a food item, drink to share, and a chair to sit on. We will set up on the grass south of the bathrooms. Anyone who would like to dive the cove during our event or after is welcome to do so. Because this is a store sponsored event all those diving will be asked to sign a waiver. Please RSVP to Dawn@oceanenterprises.com if you're going to come.

Ocean Enterprises Fun Dive: August 10th at 1pm. OE will be sponsoring a two tank dive, going to the kelp beds and Ruby E. Kristine from Scubapro will be joining in with demo gear for everyone to try. Tanks, weights, and lunch with hot soup is included. Dawn Tosta will bring fruit, sodas, and cupcakes or something....since the 10th is also Dawn Tosta's birthday. Call Ocean Enterprises to reserve a spot.

Shark Week on Discovery Channel: August 10-16 at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel. "Shark Week" is back with a splash, celebrating its 16th year on the Discovery Channel. That's a long time in the TV business.

Something unique at the Birch Aquarium - The La Jolla Chamber Society is presenting the world premiere of Oceanophony at the aquarium on Sunday, August 10th. I'm going to guess that the music will be in the modern classical style. Tickets to this event are $15 for adults, and $5 for children. Visit ljcms.org or call 858-459-3728 for ticket information. The rest of Summerfest 2003 looks very interesting too.

More Birch Aquarium Events

Shark Discovery Days Kickoff: August.9-10: Shark Discovery Days is an interactive, educational exhibit sponsored by Time Warner Cable and Discovery Channel's "Shark Week." The celebration kicks off August 9-10 and continues daily through September 1. During the kickoff weekend, check out the shark tank, create art on T-shirts or on the pavement alongside professional artists chalking shark images. During Shark Discovery Days at Birch Aquarium, there will be many species of sharks featured, including leopard, horn, shovelnose guitarfish, wobbegong, white-tip, black-tip and nurse sharks.

Shark Discovery Days Members Celebration: Saturday, August 9, 6-8:30 p.m. at the Birch Aquarium. Meet celebrity host of "Shark Week," Nigel Marven, and hear about his adventures with sharks. Experience Shark Discovery Days' exhibits and activities, hear live Hawaiian music, take home commemorative photos and enjoy a reception and no-host bar. This is an event all ages will enjoy! If you haven't visited Birch Aquarium in a while, you'll also enjoy our newest exhibit, "Sounds of the Sea." RSVP: 858/534-5771. Scripps Oceanographic Society members: Free; Guests admitted with passes or paid admission. Parking: $3/car or member parking pass

"Shark Week" host Nigel Marven: Saturday, August 9, 2-4 p.m. Popular "Shark Week" host Nigel Marven returns to Birch Aquarium to dive in the kelp forest tank, meet visitors and sign autographs. Marven will also be the special guest at our Shark Discovery Days Members' Celebration that evening.

Ocean Science Lecture: Wednesday, August 13, 7:30-9 a.m. at the Birch Aquarium. "Making Waves in Southern California" Jeffrey B. Graham "Perspectives on Ocean Science" lecture. Dr. Robert Guza will describe how ocean waves are measured and how waves move sand on our beaches. Discover the profound role waves play in shaping the Southern California coastline. RSVP (858) 534-5771. Scripps Oceanographic Society Members: Free; Guests: $8. Includes continental breakfast, parking validation and Aquarium admission.

From the Caymans
Club member Brian Kinley is working in Grand Cayman as a dive instructor. Brian sent this to me last year. I will never underestimate the pleasures of snorkeling again.

Over the past eleven years of diving I have had a lot of memorable experiences. From being surrounded by sharks to seeing the biggest puffer fish, seahorses and all sorts of marine life that makes me fall in love with the water all over again and again. Today was another one of those days. Granted any day that I see a shark is a good day. They are very elusive creatures, equivalent to the king of the jungle they are in fact the kings of the water. On quite a few occasions I have had the privilege of sharing the same space and water with these magnificent creatures. Before today they have all been while scuba diving and only on one other occasion have I been able to be close enough to touch them. This excludes lesser sharks that we hand feed on a regular basis. I am talking about the sharks that movies are made of, The Hammer head! Before today I have never been up close to a Hammer head. I have been up close and personal with Black tip reef sharks and others but this was a great Hammer head! You can only imagine how excited I was!

The funny part of all this is that I was not diving! Along with dive boats that run each day we also have a snorkel boat that is for all those non divers that still want a taste of the underwater environment. I think all in all there was fate involved, I am scheduled in for a week of training. This means that I am teaching new divers along with divers advancing there certifications. There was a group of people that have signed up for the class that are all Spanish speaking. I would have loved to teach them but the only Spanish that I am fluent in is the swearing. So I swapped out with Inaki who you may be able to tell from the name is from Spain. So there for I took his position on the snorkel boat. Off we go with our snorkelers for what is a routine three stop snorkel adventure that I refer to as the "Three hour tour" taken from Gilligan. The first stop is at "Coral Gardens" this spot is eight feet deep inside the North sound that has a barrier reef protecting it. The chances of seeing a shark let alone a Great Hammer head during the day are very slim, again this is in eight feet of water!!! Fate is all I can say.

As soon as we anchor and give the OK for all to hop in the water, there is another boat next to us. Their snorkelers are moving at a very quick pace back to there boat and the famous words "SHARK" are being screamed. Rich, who I am working with, and I look at each other and smile. We did not even have to say anything to each other. We smirked and thought "Yeah, Yeah, it is probably a nurse shark or something that is large but not a shark." I look over at the crew of the other boat and one of them is climbing as high as he can to get a better vantage point. I whistle to him and give him the sign for shark and raise my hands asking. He points..... there is the shadow! The next thing you hear is Rich and I slapping on our mask and fins which where next to us in case of an emergency and two splashes, no words just action. I can only imagine what we looked like, a pair of torpedoes! Within seconds I see him, eight feet to be conservative most likely larger. "Rich! Rich! Hammerhead right there!" I yelled to get his attention. He turns and there he is right under us!! Now picture yourself in eight feet of water, the Sharks girth alone was a good three and a half feet top to bottom not including his fins and it is scanning the sand for stingrays. There is now three feet between him and us as he swims under us. Normally they take off in a hurry but he was not bothered. He was looking for a meal and we were not going to stop him.

His mouth was slightly agape, showing his nice row of white teeth, as if he where smiling in anticipation of a nice stingray meal. He is so close I can see his eyes shift in there sockets! He turns and off we swim after him, again he turns and heads for us. We both stop dead in the water as he passes. We keep this up for over ten minutes! TEN MINUTES! This is incredible, normally they jet off when people are too close. I dove down to get a better look and gage his size. He is massive. The head alone was over three feet across. There is a videographer in the water taking this all in. The Hammer head goes for her and is just about to hit her and her camera then turns. There was less than six inches between his head and her lens! I look over to our boat and see some of our people getting out of the water. To bad for them this is an experience of a life time. Finally he turns and heads away, not to far though. I can still see him but it is time to head back in. While swimming back I look around for another glimpse of our beautiful friend. On the boat I had one that said he never saw him. There are times when I think there is nothing that can surprise me and then this happens. How could you have not seen him?! Up the anchor and off to the next stop.

We finish off the trip with "Stingray city", this is where we hand feed the stingrays while in the water with them. These are another beautiful creature, when ever I am with them they are all over me and I look on them as if they where my children. The wonders of the world are all around us and for me I get to play with them everyday. If you ever wondered what is there to see under the waves just head down here and I will show you.

In closing I wish to remind everyone that Sharks are not the heartless predator that they have been conveyed as rather they are a magnificent creature that should be revered and held high. Unfortunately her in Cayman and other places around the world ignorance prevails and they kill these beautiful sea creatures. There is much to be said about education, before you kill something ask yourself why.

A few of us are trying to stop the killing of our sharks here, all it takes is education.

Underwater Monopoly Marathon -
Saturday, August 16, 2003; 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM; College of Oceaneering; 3580 Aero Court, San Diego

Dive into the College of Oceaneering’s brand new 45,000 gallon tank complete with viewing windows for everyone to watch the game! Divers in teams of 4 will play Underwater Monopoly for one-hour shifts throughout this 12-hour event.

To play, each diver needs to collect cash contributions and/or pledges for SAY San Diego. SAY (Social Advocates for Youth) provides life changing services to children and youth in San Dieog county. SAY is a 501(c)3 charity and one of the largest nonprofits in San Diego.

To request your preferred dive time, please contact 858-565-4148, x 230 or glenda@saysandiego.org. Every diver that raises $250 will receive an Underwater Monopoly Marathon t–shirt and a sports bag. Raise $300 and you’ll also get an Underwater Monopoly beach towel. GRAND PRIZE: To the diver that raises the most money over $500, you'll win a trip for 2 to New Orleans!

Rocks, Rips, and Reefs
Every year, the San Diego Council of Divers and the San Diego City Lifeguards sponsor a series of in-the-water seminars at local shore diving spots. The protocol is the same as previous years; snorkeling gear only, wear no more than half your normal diving weight. The cost is $5 per person and includes drinks and snacks afterwards. Registration and waivers start at 0800 and you should be suited up and ready by 8:15. This is a fun way to get familiar with our local waters. If you haven't done any of these, be sure to do Goldfish Point. It's one of those neat places that go unnoticed.

August 9 - Marine Street
August 23 - Goldfish Point (La Jolla Caves)
September 13 - Hospital Point

There is an email list for reminders and cancellation notices. To subscribe, send a blank email to rocks-rips-reefs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Each 3R's session is on a Saturday morning. On the Thursday two days before each session, the lifeguards send out reminders to the 3 R's e-mail list. Each reminder has the date, time, and location of the 3R's session, some comments regarding the dive site, and information regarding current and expected ocean conditions.

As with any water activity, weather and surf are always factors. Organizers won't be taking people out in six foot breakers. If we know for certain that large surf is expected, the Thursday reminder may tell you that the 3R's has been canceled. This would be unusual. It is more likely for the reminder to warn you of our concerns about the weather and ask that you to monitor further developments, such as by checking your e-mail before leaving home on Saturday morning. Cancellations are also posted on our web site. Sometimes, there's just no way to tell whether ocean conditions are conducive to diving other than to go down to the beach and take a look. Part of what we hope to teach in the 3R's program is what the ocean looks like when diving conditions are marginal.

The San Diego Lifeguard beach conditions recording -- (619) 221-8824 -- is updated in the morning, usually just before 7 am. We try to include cancellation information in that recording.

If the session is going forward, we will have a volunteer on site no later than 8 am to register participants. We try to be there earlier. Look for
the small dive flag. Each participant must sign a liability waiver before each session. Participants 17 and under need a parent or legal guardian to sign the release. Let us know and we can e-mail you a release to print out and have signed. 3R's is free.

Bring a mask, fins, and snorkel. The ocean is cool and rocks can be sharp, so a wetsuit is strongly recommended. Bare feet and full foot fins are not a good idea. Weights are unnecessary. Scuba gear (regulator, BC, tank) is not used during the 3R's.

If you haven't been diving or snorkeling recently, please check your gear before Saturday. Mask straps and fin straps deteriorate over time, even if not used.

The lifeguard starts the briefing at 8:15 am. We try to be in the water by 8:30 am. We are in the water for about an hour.

Marine Conservation
Divers Survey - John Moore, the SoCal divers representative to the MLPA task force is preparing to run a survey of California divers. The more divers that participate, the more weight the survey will have John won't run the survey at all unless he gets enough divers signing up. This is important, folks. We've got to make ourselves heard, or the commercial interests will have the only voice. We all saw what happened to the abalone, rockfish, and God only knows what's next. Get your wet-suited self to http://divebums.com/contacts.html and sign up. Please tell your diving friends from NorCal too.

Join I Love A Clean and San Diego San Diego BayKeeper for California Coastal Cleanup Day 2003!
Saturday, September 20th, 9 a.m. to Noon

California Coastal Cleanup Day is the country's premier volunteer event focused on the marine environment. Each year, more than 40,000 volunteers turn out to over 400 cleanup sites statewide to conduct what has been hailed by the Guinness Book of Records as "the largest garbage collection" (1993). Since the program started in 1985, over 552,000 Californians have removed almost 8.5 million pounds of debris from our state's shorelines and coast. Coming at the end of the summer beach season and right near the start of the school year, Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD) is a great way for families, students, service groups, businesses and neighbors to show community support for our shared natural resources, take care of our fragile marine environment, learn about the impacts of marine debris and how we can prevent them, and to have fun!

During CCD 2002, more than 4,700 dedicated volunteers removed approximately 100,575 pounds of debris from San Diego County's coastal and inland waterways. We were thrilled to see the widespread and enthusiastic support that made last year¹s cleanup one of the most successful in the state! A huge "THANK YOU!" goes out to all the volunteers, site captains and supporters who helped to make this event possible.

For more information on CCD 2003, visit the official CCD website, http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html, call the ILACSD Recycling Hotline at 1-800-237-2583, or contact Sarah Adams at volunteers@ilacsd.org. We look forward to again seeing thousands of dedicated volunteers out supporting clean water, helping to make our beaches, bays, rivers and creeks safe and clean for all of San Diego to enjoy.

Please join us on September 20, from 9 a.m. to Noon. Bring your family, friends, schools, co-workers, and community or church groups! Let¹s make the 19th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day the biggest and best yet!

Be part of the solution to marine pollution!

Sarah Adams
Volunteer Coordinator
I Love A Clean San Diego
4355 Ruffin Road, Suite 118
San Diego, CA 92123
T: 858-467-0103 ext.3003
Fax: 858-467-1314
volunteers@ilacsd.org

San Diego Council of Divers
Currently the OES does not have a Council of Divers delegate. We need 1 more person to join before the OES gets a vote on the council. SDCD membership is only $15/year. If you want to support both the council and OES, please contact John Leek, and be sure to list your affilliation as the Ocean Explorers Society.

The Council has been active in getting Children's pool reopened to general use. Bacteria levels have been down to safe levels and pupping season is over. However, this remains a volatile situation. There was an incident a few months ago where a swimmer was scratched by a seal, and several swimmers were cited by NOAA. Though some people maintain that the seals were driven into the water by people heckeling the swimmers on shore, NOAA apparently decided otherwise.

There have also been people claiming to be from NOAA and acting as if they were enforcement officers. If you're approached by anyone, ask to see their official ID. Any enforcement officer will produce that in a heartbeat though they normally have a badge visible. If you're approached by one of these people, note the time and place, collect any cards they give you, and turn the whole thing over to the FBI. Maybe if we give them enough grief, they'll arrest these people and make them stop.

Also, if you get harrased by any of these people, let me know and I will pass that information along to the council.

If there are issues you think the council should be addressing, please let me know. I'm on the board of directors now, and can take your ideas directly to the council leadership.

Dive Travel
Cocos Island
Former OES member Laura Mankoff is leading a Cocos Island trip for Gypsy Divers in Raleigh, North Carolina. Cost is $3100 plus airfare. There are still 2 spots left. Visit the Gypsy Divers web site for more information

La Paz
October 9-13 - We still have a few spots available. The water is warm (about 78 deg. or so), and it's "Hammerhead Season." We 're staying at Club Cantamar and using the Baja Diving Service. It is a great little resort outside of town, and you can view it on the web at www.clubcantamar.com The cost of this four-night trip, with airfare, three full days of diving, breakfast, and lunch will be $800.This is a great trip at a price that won't break the bank. Contact Liza Suwczinski at a1turkey@cox.net for more information.

Channel Islands
The SD Underwater Photographic Society has invited OES members to join them on their Truth Aquatics and Horizon trips. Their last trip was truly outstanding. If you haven't done the Channel Islands yet -- GO. This is some of the best diving California has to offer. Send an email to Cindy (ccoppert@qualcomm.com) or you can call her at W: 858-845-6632 or C: 858-775-8590 if your're interested in going.

Horizon - out of San Diego - H & M Landing -2803 Emerson Street 858-277-7823 Oct 25 & 26 (Saturday/Sunday) Cost: $280 ($200 Deposit) Destination: Santa Barbara Island. Boarding Time: 7PM Friday (10/24) Departure Time: 9PM Friday (10/24) Return Time: 8PM Sunday (10/26)

REEF Research Trip to the Channel Islands
REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) is planning a research trip to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary September 16-20. The cost is $540 and you will learn how to identify all the fish species in the reserve as well as conduct up to 18 fish-count dives.

Package includes 5 nights accommodation aboard the M/V Conception, all diving (up to 18 dives), air refills, all meals while on the boat, and daily marine life identification review seminars. All prices per person. An additional $100 tax-deductible REEF fee is added to the full package cost to cover the cost of trip leaders, seminars, and survey materials.

Contact Dive Reservations, Inc. at 888-363-3345 or reef@diveres.com for more information, or visit www.reef.org/fieldsurv/index.htm.

La Bufadora
Once again, the Dive Animals are organizing trips to La Bufadora. These are very cheap, and fun.Reports have been universally good, and you can't beat the price. Trips are schedules for Aug 2 - 3, Sept 13 - 14, and Oct 25 - 26 (tentative). The trip is open to everyone, not just Dive Animal members, so bring your fun, adventurous friends. (think "Summer Camp"...)

Frances San Clemente writes:
We stay at the rustic half-star accommodations provided by Dale's Dive Shack and dive from his trusty pangas (fishing boats). This is much more fun than it sounds! Some folks sleep in the much sought-after bunkroom. Others camp in the front yard, which is on a cliff overlooking the bay. Both have the same incredible ocean-view.

We have room for 15 in the bunkhouse (that's where you'll find me!). Any number can camp. We have room for 26 divers. These always sell out, so sign up early. Maximum number on the trip? We've had as many as 40 campers....! The more the merrier! This is a great way to meet people.

Each morning you'll awake to a buffet feast prepared by yours truly, John and Jean, and whoever else we can recruit when they get up early when they small the bacon cooking and the coffee brewing.

We leave the non-divers behind to clean the kitchen, and take off for a morning of diving the gorgeous walls, pinnacles, coves, arch, caves, and sea lion rookeries.

Afterward, we head for a hot shower before we relax, unwind, nap, visit the famous blow-hole, shop and have lunch at the nearby mercado, whatever. Dinner arrangements are made for a group dinner at one of the restaurants nearby. Some folks like to bring their dinner grills or otherwise do their own thing. There are several inexpensive, yummy and reliable restaurants in La Bufe.

We end the day swapping tales over a big campfire. And prepare for a repeat performance the following day. Folks pack up shortly after diving on Sunday and head back to San Diego, most vowing to return on the next trip.

The diving in La Bufadora is none short of spectacular. Bring your camera (or a friend's) for some amazing macro photography. The nudibranches here are like nothing you've ever seen. Also, lots of sea lions, occasional dolphins, and a regular assortment of the same type of fish we see locally, as well as others (corvina, species of rockfish, etc.) we don't see much of around here.

The cost for the expedition is such that just about everyone can come.

$30pp covers a weekend of lodging, parking (whether you stay in the bunkhouse or camp), buffet breakfast, snacks, water, sodas, other necessities (such as toilet paper, paper towels, etc. We bring it all for you!). This is paid at the time you sign up to reserve your spot.

The cost for a 2-tank dive has been $25 for many years. There may be a slight increase this year due to the high cost of gasoline. Don't know yet. Last year Dale charged $30 for the trip to the far southern pinnacles. So 2 days of diving (2 tanks a day) has been $55. Darn good deal...!!

Tanks/fills - You can bring your own (Dale charges $4 for a fill) or rent one of his ($5 per tank). Is it worth the dollar to haul your own tank? Only you can decide. Dale has both AL80s and steel 72s. No HP steels. No problem with Dale's air fills. He's been taking care of US divers for years (he is one!)

Meals - Breakfast, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages are included. Other meals: For lunch, you may want fish tacos from a local place (2 for $1.50 or you may want a Mexican combo plate $5.00) Either way, it won't break the bank. Dinner is about $10 per person. On the way down, I've stopped at La Fonda for a $20 scallops platter, but also stop at roadside stands for tamales (75 cents each) or carne asada torta ($1.50). That gives you some idea.... $40 should fee you well for the weekend.

Shopping - That will depend on you. The mercado is right there, a few steps away, and has some great deals on Mexican arts and crafts. Some places take credit cards, most want cash.

Getting there - Carpooling is best so you can split the cost of insurance, tolls, gas. In my 4Runner, I can fill up here and not need gas till I get back. So that's about $30 right now. Insurance at the border costs me about $20 for the weekend. And tolls are about $8 each way. So that's about $60
per car.

Alcoholic beverages - BYO. The Mexican beer is wonderful, as most of you know. (try Negra Modelo, if you never have). Stop at a Gigante market for your best prices, rather than a liquor store.

 

Membership

Renewal rates are $20 single; $30 for a family. If you can't make it to a meeting, 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.

For more information: