January 2016 CHANNEL ISLANDS DIVERS • WWW.CHANNELISLANDSDIVERS.ORG • 1 Many thanks to the sponsors of our club: Pirates Restaurant, Channel Islands Dive Adventures, Sport Chalet, PCH Scuba, Island Packers, Channel Islands Scuba, NUVAIR ********* MEETING DATES January 20 Speaker Brett Bovard of PCH Scuba February 17 March 16 April 20 N e w s l e t t e r Meet January’s Speaker: Brett Bovard of PCH Scuba Calendar of Events Page 2 Thanks to the Morrisons November/December Raffle Winners Page 3 Abalone Diving By Steve Peterson Critter Contest Page 4 CID Members on the Web Page 5 Dive Happenings ByMike Cunningham Page 5 Board Members & Membership Info Page 8 Dive Happenings BOTTOM TIMES... FROM YOUR PRESIDENT, CONNIE YOUNG Dear Fellow Club Members, Happy New Year’s Channel Islands Divers. I trust you all had a wonderful holiday season and finished out 2015 strong! I love the start of the New Year – so many adventures and opportunities await us. For that reason alone I decided to share 4 New Year’s resolutions for divers I found in my recent readings. SCUBA 2016 RESOLUTIONS! They are well worth considering as we plan our 2016 dives. 1. Incorporate the new toys wisely – Santa loves to give us divers new underwater toys and gadgets for Christmas and we can’t wait to try them out. The problem is all the distractions those new accessories can cause while diving. Do a few dry test runs when possible or plan an easy ‘check out’ dive. Then, visualize using the new gear in a challenging dive. Can you hold in one hand and clear your mask, handle a descent line or check your air-depth-time. (Continued on page 6 )
Transcript
J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6
C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S • W W W . C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S . O R G • ! 1
Many thanks to the sponsors of our club:
Pirates Restaurant, Channel Islands Dive
Adventures, Sport Chalet, PCH Scuba,
Island Packers, Channel Islands Scuba,
NUVAIR *********
MEETING DATES January 20
Speaker Brett Bovard of PCH Scuba
February 17
March 16
April 20
N e w s l e t t e rMeet January’s Speaker: Brett Bovard of PCH Scuba Calendar of Events Page 2
Thanks to the Morrisons November/December Raffle Winners Page 3
Abalone Diving By Steve Peterson Critter Contest Page 4 CID Members on the Web Page 5
Dive Happenings ByMike Cunningham Page 5 Board Members & Membership Info Page 8
Dive Happenings
BOTTOM TIMES... FROM YOUR PRESIDENT, CONNIE YOUNG Dear Fellow Club Members, Happy New Year’s Channel Islands Divers. I trust you all had a wonderful holiday season and finished out 2015 strong! I love the start of the New Year – so many adventures and opportunities await us. For that reason alone I decided to share 4 New Year’s resolutions for divers I found in my recent readings.
SCUBA 2016 RESOLUTIONS!
They are well worth considering as we plan our 2016 dives. 1. Incorporate the new toys wisely – Santa loves to give us divers new underwater toys and gadgets for Christmas and we can’t wait to try them out. The problem is all the distractions those new accessories can cause while diving. Do a few dry test runs when possible or plan an easy ‘check out’ dive. Then, visualize using the new gear in a challenging dive. Can you hold in one hand and clear your mask, handle a descent line or check your air-depth-time. (Continued on page 6 )
!
J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6
C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S • W W W . C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S . O R G • ! 2
Meet Our January Speaker: Brett Bovard of PCH Scuba We are thrilled to welcome Brett Bovard of PCH Scuba as our January Speaker. Brett is the owner of PCH Scuba located in Agoura Hills California. Brett has logged over 3000 dives in 13 years, traveling extensively all over the world. He will be discussing under water lighting and showing a video from his recent trip to Socorro Island. Brett has been married for 16 years to his lovely wife Sheri who is also a diver. And they have and two daughters, Lauren and Erin.
PCH Scuba began in 2006 as an educational facility and travel center. It offers PADI diver certification courses from Open Water thru Dive Master. After certifying approximately 2500 Open Water Divers, PCH Scuba opened a retail center in November 2013. They are terribly proud of our zero injury status as of the end of 2015. (Continued on Page 7)
January 2016 20 - Monthly Club Meeting
Progressive Raffle
25 - Board Meeting Marie Calendar’s 6:30 pm
February 17 - Monthly Club Meeting
Participation Drawing
22 - Board Meeting Marie Calendar’s 6:30 pm
March 16 - Monthly Club Meeting
21 - Board Meeting Marie Calendar’s 6:30 pm
April 20 - Monthly Club Meeting
Progressive Raffle
25- Board Meeting Marie Calendar’s 6:30 pm
May 18 - Monthly Club Meeting
Participation Drawing
23 - Board Meeting Marie Calendar’s 6:30 pm
June 15 - Monthly Club Meeting
20 - Board Meeting Marie Calendar’s 6:30 pm
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6
C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S • W W W . C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S . O R G • ! 3
November Raffle Winners: Dive Parks to Dodie Duffy from Sport Chalet 3mm gloves to Joe Kearns from Sport Chalet Dive Bag to Mike Cunningham from PCH Scuba Mask to Lisa Cunningham from PCH Scuba Shark Skin to Paul Booth from PCH Scuba Participation: $25 Gift Card to Kurt Booth from Sport Chalet Participation: Club T-shirt to Bob Soriano Door Prize: $25 Gift Card to Ken Kollwitz from Sport Chalet Christmas Party Prizes BCD to Beth Borer from PCH Scuba Cressi Dive Computer to Tim Graham from PCH Scuba Dive Mask to Angie Booth from PCH Scuba First Aid Kit to Cindy Doyon from Sport Chalet Santa Rosa Boat Trip to Joe Henneessy from Island Packers 2 for 1 Dive Trip for Laurie Hennessy from CIDA
Progressive Raffle Months: January, April, July, October Participation Drawing Months: February, May, August, Novemb
DIVING
CLUB TEE SHIRTS $15. Club Patches-‐ New Design
BUY THEM NOW!
We want to hear from you! We would love to publish your diving story or other contribution in our newsletter. Please send us information about when you started diving, where you have been diving and what your experience has been with diving, and/or anything else diving-related you would like to tell us about yourself. A photo (or four) would be fantastic. Just want to submit photos? That’s fine too! Email Angie Booth at [email protected] with your story, bio and/or pictures. Pictures are appreciated in separate .jpg files (not imbedded in another document) and text in MS Word or your email (not a .pdf). Not only will we get to know you better, you’ll receive a Participation Point for our quarterly Participation Raffle drawing. Make this YOUR newsletter! We look forward to hearing from you.
🐬
Thank You
Dave & Jennifer Morrison!!!
The Club held our annual Christmas holiday party, December 5, 2015 at Dave & Jennifer Morrison’s clubhouse in Camarillo again. Thank you Dave & Jennifer for making this space available to the club. Once again the party was a spectacular success. We had exceptional food, fun, and laughter with the secret santa gift exchange. Thanks Mike Doyon for running the exchange and for all of you that brought food and helped out.
And congratulations to our photo contest winners which we announced at the party. The winners and their photos will be be featured in next month’s newsletter.
C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S • W W W . C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S . O R G • ! 4
Name that Contest Critter!!! WIN A PARTICIPATION POINT (or 2)
for our Quarterly Participation Raffle. Two Options to Win Participation Points!
1. You win if you are the first person* to email this month’s O-Fish-Al Critter Name including: Genus and species and common name of the newsletter’s featured fishy or current critter to [email protected].
~and~ 2. You win if you submit a photo of a proposed
contestant critter, and tell us the Genus and species and common name, and your critter is selected for a newsletter. Email your proposed critter to: [email protected]
January’s Critter
Photo by Bill Weinerth
Abalone Dive Trip Aug 10 to 16, 2016 By Steve Peterson Once again, this year Rocky and I are going Ab Grabbing in Fort Bragg (Northern Calif). We would like to invite all interested club members to join us. This is a joint adventure involving the Channel Islands Divers, the Pacific Explorers Dive Club, and a group of divers from Northern California. We camp, free-dive for red abalone, scuba dive old shipwrecks, kayak sea caverns, photograph nudibranchs and other marine life, hike the redwood forests, mountain bike, and share feasts lasting into the night. Many people plan their own itineraries, but efforts are made to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in group events. The turnout has been growing and there were about 30 attendees last year, but things never seem crowded because everyone chooses their level of involvement. The core group of divers numbers approximately 15, and both families and friends are welcome. This year we will stay at MacKerricher State Park (about 3 miles north of Fort Bragg). My plan is to arrive August 10 and leave the 16th. This outing usually evolves into a revolving dive party with really interesting folks coming and going all week long. Most dinners turn into camp-fire-potlucks. I tell ya, some of those Pacific Explorer's can really cook great stuff over a campfire. Of course, I'm fairly proud of my campground abalone cooking too. This coastline is truly beautiful with Redwood forests, coastal bluffs and rugged basalt sea cliffs that are scenic and quite an adventure to explore. The Fort Bragg/Mendocino area coastline has the most interesting kayaking I have ever experienced. Not only are there sea caves, but lots tunnels where you can come out the other end 25 or 50 yards away. Each point of land tends to fold back onto itself & making some great passageways around the headlands with a maze of interesting channels, wash-rocks, and inlets to play in. (continued on page 7)
C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S • W W W . C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S . O R G • ! 5
DIVING
Dive Happenings,
By Mike Cunningham
Want to Hike with Club Members? January 23. Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve Castle via Victory Blvd., south of the Cave of Munits.
February 13. Tangerine Falls – Take 3. Yes there is a story behind the name – just ask.
February 27. Plan B in Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve via Victory Blvd. with a swing by the Cave of Munits.
Let’s go Whitewater Rafting! Sunday, June 12 2016 Lower Kern River One day trip on Class IV rapids We will meet in Kernville at the Mountain & River Adventures parking area at 7:30 am. There is a 12 person minimum for the price of $175 a person. A deposit of $88 per person is needed to hold your spot and is due by Jan. 20 with all remaining balances due by May 1st.
Have ideas for club activities above or below the water? Contact Mike Cunningham at [email protected]
CID Members featured on Ocean Defenders Alliance Website
On October 26, 2015 we had the pleasure of hosting Kurt Leiber of the Ocean Defenders Alliance. Check it out on their website at ocean defenders.org in their News and Media section.
C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S • W W W . C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S . O R G • ! 6
PCH Scuba has the following exciting trips planned:
Socorro and Sea of Cortez Jun 12th-22nd, 2016 $3984-4995 - 2 spots left Galapagos Sep 8th-15th, 2016 $7195 (includes air) 6 Spots Available Wakatobi March 2017 $4295-$4495 Spots Available Anacapa Jan 24, 2016 Peace Boat Open Water $145 Santa Cruz Backside Feb 6, 2016 Peace Boat Open Water $150 Catalina Front Side Feb 20, 2016 Asante Open Water $150 Anacapa March 5, 2016 Peace Boat Open Water $145
From Your President (cont. from p.1)
2. Continue your education – What is the next certification you would like to receive? Look at the courses available from the level you are currently and sign up for a class. Along with all the online courses available, we have a few members who are certified and happy to help your gain more experience and get wet doing it!
3. Get a medical checkup – this is true for all divers! Many cases from DAN’s Accident Assessments and Scuba Diving’s Lessons for Life showcase how undiagnosed medical issues can present themselves for the first time on a scuba dive. Make your check up an annual event and you are covered.
4. Attend a regional dive show – These shows are a great way to meet other divers, learn from dive experts, see new products and discover new places to dive! To enhance the experience, plan on attending a few of the multiple presentations from renowned dive advocates all around the country. The Long Beach Scuba Show is June 4 & 5, 2016
Safe Diving – Bring it on 2016!
Connie Young Club President
J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6
C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S • W W W . C H A N N E L I S L A N D S D I V E R S . O R G • ! 7
I really enjoy going for a paddle, stopping halfway through to dive and grab my abs, and then play some more with the kayak in those rock-gardens. For those of you who have never been abalone diving, is not rocket science. If you can dive down 20 feet, then Ab grabbing is ridiculously easy on a calm day. In places with kelp, below 20 feet or so, those abalone are just out in the open and really abundant. The deeper you dive, generally the more and bigger the abs. You can get your abs in the shallows, but it takes a little more work there. Those areas are more picked over, with any remaining abalone are generally smaller and hiding back in cracks. I do not claim to be much of a free diver at all, but for me it is easier to dive just a little deeper than most other divers and have a bigger selection to choose from. In my opinion, there is just enough challenge to make ab diving a sporting event. First, you need get down to where those abs are. Then you have to make your selection. This can be the hardest part . . . kind of like a little kid in a candy store. I swear, on some dives I have spotted about 20 legal abs within reach. But, then you just have a few seconds to pick out the biggest and pop it off and get back to the surface. Our state has a whole bunch of complicated and rigidly enforced abalone regulations. The Rangers and Wardens must be really proud of their abalone, because they are highly protective of them and enforce the rules to the max. My recommendation is to don't even think of violating any of the laws. We can cover the rules at the campground after you have bought your abalone card. If you would like to join us, please feel free to talk to Steve Peterson (805) 643-5834 or Don Sisting at (909) 615-2162 for more details.
Getting a campsite will require being on the computer Feb 1st at 8:00 and working with Reserve America. The State Beach campgrounds fill fast! For those who do not care to camp, there are many hotels in nearby Fort Bragg. Check with Ann Hoagland and Sandy Bickford for their favorites. Hope to see you there!
Abalone (Continued from Page 4)
Speaker Brett Bovard (continued from page 2) PCH Scuba is a proud supporter of Channel Islands Dive Club and and the Antelope Valley Desert Divers, and proud partner of Channel
Our next board meeting is on January 25th, at 6:30 pm at Marie Calendars restaurant in Ventura on Victoria.
All club members are WELCOME and ENCOURAGED to attend the board meetings. If you wish to attend, please ask one of the board members for information and directions to the meeting location.
MEMBERSHIP
New Members… Welcome!
Dan Ketterling Lori Ketterling Lynda Fritsch
We currently have 128 Members!
Membership Policy: Club policy is to drop members from the roster THREE MONTHS AFTER MEMBERSHIP EXPIRATION. You must renew your membership within one month of your expiration date to receive the renewal rate. If you renew beyond this time, the new membership rate will apply. You may renew your membership as early as one month prior to the expiration date. Your membership will continue as of your expiration date, not the day you renew. For more information, and to renew your membership, email our Membership Coordinator, Mike Doyon at:
