Ab Season Reopens Aug. 1
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is reminding free-divers that sport red abalone fishery reopens August 1 and continues through November 30, 2005. This is a usual annual cycle. The primary purpose of the closure is to reduce the overall catch of red abalone during the summer, a traditional high-take period. The July closure has been used for this purpose since 1976.

DFG also reminds abalone fishermen 16 years and older that a valid fishing license and an abalone report card must be purchased when taking abalone. The report card must be returned to the address on the back of the card by the end of the season, and can be submitted early. Regulations require that the abalone card be returned even if no abalone were taken.

The California 2005 Sport Fishing Regulations state that red abalone may be taken from April through June, and from August through November. The fishery for all species of abalone is closed year-round south of the mouth of San Francisco Bay. The bag limit is three abalone per day, with an annual limit of 24 abalone. The size limit for abalone is seven inches or greater in diameter.

Additional information about California abalone is available on DFG’s web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd.

Casino Point Scuba Trail — Aug. 7, Sept. 10 and more
The Catalina Conservancy Divers are once again providing divers with the Casino Point Scuba Trail experience in Avalon’s Underwater Park August 7, September 10 and October 22. Approximately 25 markers will be placed temporarily along the trail to identify various marine organisms. Depths of the trail average between 20 and 35 feet. In addition, trained CCD research divers will be on hand to answer questions and provide resource materials to help you learn more about the unique marine animals and plants that thrive around Catalina Island. The trail will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (weather permitting) and is free. For further details, visit the Catalina Conservancy web site at www.ccd.org.

3Rs Beach Diving Workshops - Aug. 13 and 27
Rocks, Reefs and Rips program (3Rs) is a mini-course designed to familiarize divers with popular beach dive sites and improve their beach diving skills. The next session for the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area will take place August 13 at Point Dume in the Malibu area. Sessions in the San Diego area will take place Saturday, Aug 13 at Marine Street (meet at 300 Marine Street) and Saturday, August 27 at Hospital Point in the La Jolla community (meet at 400 Coast Blvd., south of Cuvier).

Instructors will demonstrate and supervise proper surf entry and exit procedures, explain unique aspects of the dive site, and discuss dive condition assessment techniques. Participants are then led on a snorkeling tour of the dive site. (Participants are to wear full wetsuit, mask, fins, snorkel, and a weight belt with half of the normal weight they use for diving. Tanks and regulators are not allowed.)

All classes begin at 8 a.m. but participants should arrive at 7:45 for registration. There may be a fee depending on the session (visit the appropriate web site as indicated below).

The Los Angeles area workshops are organized and conducted by the L.A. County Underwater Instructors Association in cooperation with the Greater Los Angeles Council of Divers (GLACD). For more info on the L.A. County workshops, e-mail 3rs@glacd.org, call 310-344-3250 visit online www.lascuba.com/3rs.html. The San Diego sessions are hosted by the San Diego Council of Divers and various dive clubs. For more information on the San Diego 3Rs, visit www.sddivers.com/events.

Monterey Underwater Cleanup — September 17
The San Francisco Reefdivers along with The Central California Council of Diving Clubs (CENCAL) are hosting this year’s Monterey Clean-up Dive in conjunction with the California Coastal Cleanup Day. The event is September 17 at Wharf II in Monterey next to Del Monte Beach. Activities will begin at 8 a.m. and run until 3 p.m. Parking is free until 3 p.m. There will be a BBQ and prizes after the dive. For more information, contact Deb Gillmore at 510-846-0351 or e-mail divecleanup2005@yahoo.com.

Chocolate Lobster Dive — September 24
This year, the Chocolate Lobster Dive will be a Dive-A-Thon with participants seeking sponsorships to help raise funds to benefit the Aquarium’s Ocean Outreach Program.

The event is limited to 500 divers who will search the ocean for “lobsters.” This year, lobsters will be an environmentally friendly version in the form of colored tiles. Prizes currently include a Kingfisher Kayak and round-trip airfare for two to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies. All participants receive a solid milk chocolate lobster as a gift.

Entry forms and other information can be obtained online at www.chocolatelobsterdive.com; by telephone (310) 548-7562 extension 339; by e-mail at choclob05@yahoo.com; or through dive shops.