Hi-Precision U/W GPS
Chinese scientists have developed its first high-precision underwater positioning system, which is believed to be up to the advanced international level.

The underwater global position system (GPS) system can, apart from internationally prevailing functions of monitoring and dynamic positioning, pilot and position underwater objects in real-time, said Li Deren, a senior official with the National Remote Sensing Center of China.

The system operates by gathering sound and GPS data from four buoys and a GPS detector which is transferred to the system, which computes the object’s exact position.

Shifting Sand Reveal Reef
The large surf of the last couple of months have subsided in Laguna Beach to reveal a more extensive reef system at Heisler Park.

“Normally, as the ‘Inner reef’ ends, you follow the debris field to the outer pinnacle, but it is now a 3-4 foot high reef structure all the way out,” stated Rich Parker of the South Coast Divers dive club. Rich also stated that water clarity has improved dramatically.

For more information on the South Coast Divers and their weekly Saturday morning dives, visit http://southcoastdivers.com on the web.

Triggerfish at Point Loma
Diver Tomas L. Byrnes reports spotting a triggerfish at the “Horsehead” dive site at Point Loma off San Diego. Finescale triggerfish are considered a semi-tropical species occasionally seen in the extreme south of the state but only during periods of unusually warm water.

While surface water temperature have been warming normally for this time of year, temperatures below 20-25 feet are still cold, running in mid-50s. Byrnes reports seeing the triggerfish at 35 feet.

Sea Turtle at Sighted at San Clemente Island
Several divers witnessed a large sea turtle at San Clemente Island this spring while diving off the Los Angeles Harbor based charter boat Aquatica. The owner of Underwater Schools of America in Oceanside, Steve Deneef, captured the turtle on video. Sea turtle sightings in the southern Channel Islands, while not unheard of, are rare.

Public Asked to Report Southern CA Abalone
Southern California divers are being asked to help in assessing the local abalone populations. If seen, record the following data:
1) Abalone species seen.
2) Number of abalone seen on a dive or a series of dives in one area.
3) Approximate sizes of abalone (in inches.)
4) Location, preferably GPS coordinates, and depth
Report your information to Ian Taniguchi, Associate Marine Biologist, California Department of Fish and Game, e-mail ITaniguchi@dfg.ca.gov.
Some additional information which would be more helpful are as follows:
1) Groups or aggregations of abalone. The definition of an aggregation is two or more abalone of the same species that are within one meter of each other. This information will help identify areas where potentially reproductively viable populations occur.
2) Pictures of abalone. Pictures are always useful in positively
identifying species.
3) The biologists are particularly interested in sightings of green, pink, white, and black abalone, since they are uncommon. They are also interested in red abalone sightings at Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz islands, and along the mainland coast.

Poachers Caught With 468 Abs
Two Southern California fisherman were arrested in Mendocino County and face allegations of illegally harvesting more than $20,000 worth of red abalone from the coast near Albion. They were caught with 468 abalone in the hold of their urchin boat named Blind Strike. This was the largest single illegal abalone bust by the Department of Fish and Game. The abalone, most more than eight inches long, could sell for $50 to $100 each on the black market. The arrest came after wardens received a tip by local citizens, and the two could receive $40,000 in fines and three years in prison.

Orcas dining on Juvenile Gray Whales
Young gray whales are particularly vulnerable as they migrate from calving grounds in Baja to feeding grounds in Alaska. They also happen to be one of the favorite foods of orcas. This spring at least three whales were killed and partially eaten by orcas in Central California. Individual attacks occurred off the cities of Capitola, Moss Landing, and Pebble Beach.

Japanese Mini-Sub Sought
For years rumors of a WWII vintage Japanese mini-submarine wreck have circulated reported to be somewhere off Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County. Not only has the sub never been found (or at least not reported found) the sighting, and possible sinking in December 1941 has never been confirmed. During that time, tensions were high and although there were many unconfirmed sightings, there were also numerous rumors that were believed to be true, one of which was off Palos Verdes.

A group of divers and underwater filmmakers are now seeking to find this missing mini-sub and record it for a documentary. Help is needed from the public for any information that could assist in locating the missing sub, as well as providing information about the historical background of what was going at Palos Verdes during that time with regards to the war effort. Those with any information to offer should call Steve at American Diving, 800-300-DIVING.

Fine Diving in Central CA
Central California divers reported excellent diving conditions during the early spring. Seas were quit flat and visibility was 20 to 40 feet for much of April and May.