Great Annual Fish Count — July
Volunteer divers are invited to participate in the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC) during the month of July. GAFC is an event coordinated by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). The GAFC is coordinated by REEF with support from the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP). Participants receive training in local fish identification in an easy to learn survey method developed by fish ecologists. By recording their observations in a standardized method, divers assist resource managers in identifying trends in fish populations and distributions, as well as heightening public awareness about these issues.

Since 1992, the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary have been primary focus areas for the event.

Although not necessary, participants are encouraged to attend advanced training sessions in fish identification methodology. A number of seminars are being offered in California and throughout the country. In addition, some official fish count dives are being staged. Some of the local charter operators are offering discounts to “fish counters.”

For information on the fish count, visit the web site www.fishcount.org.

3Rs Beach Diving Workshops — July 10, July 31 and more
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. Los Angeles and Orange county sessions will take place: July 10 at Point Dume (Los Angeles County), and August 14 at Deer Creek Road (Ventura County). Additional workshops are planned through late summer and early fall.

Workshops are will also take place in San Diego. July 10 will be at Goldfish Point (La Jolla Caves), July 31 will take place at Shell Beach (Seal Rock) and the August 14 3Rs will take place at South Casa Cove.

Diving is subject to weather and surf. Visit the web sites listed below for updates or for e-mail addresses to be put on a list for updates.

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.)

The Los Angeles and Orange County 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, visit the GLACD web site at www.glacd.org.

The San Diego workshops are sponsored by the San Diego Council of Divers and the San Diego City Lifeguard Service. For more information on the San Diego program, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rocks-rips-reefs on the web.

U.S. National Freediving Competition — July 10-12
The United States Apnea Association (USAA) is pleased to announce that it will be hosting its first U.S. National Freediving Competition from July 10 through July 12, 2004 near Los Angeles, California. This competition will consist of three exciting events; Dynamic Apnea, Static Apnea, and Constant Ballast. The Constant Ballast event will be held off the coast of scenic Catalina Island.

Previously, USAA announced its intention to field both men’s and women’s teams for the AIDA 2004 World Freediving Championships, which will be held in Vancouver, Canada during August 2004. Competitors who want to try out for these teams are strongly encouraged to participate in the U.S. National Freediving Competition. Additional information on team selection criteria is available through USAA.

The U.S. National Freediving Competition has no minimum performance requirements and is open to anyone wishing to compete. Competitions are an excellent way to learn more about freediving, show support for USAA and fellow freedivers, and to witness performances by some of the country’s top freedivers. USAA is also seeking volunteers to assist in the logistics and safety operations of this competition. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact USAA.

All competitors must be members of USAA and are required to have either DAN membership with Master Insurance or above, or PADI Gold or Platinum insurance. Additional forms, such as medical and liability releases, will also be required. This competition will be subject to all AIDA rules and regulations.

The USAA is a nonprofit association founded on the democratic representation of freediving within the United States and internationally. Founded in 2003, the USAA consists of an active membership dedicated to furthering freediving in the United States and abroad. For more information about the USAA, the U.S. National Freediving Competition, and membership please visit http://usaa.freedivers.com.

The International Association for the Development of Freediving, AIDA, is the international sanctioning body for freediving, individual and team competition, and freediving world record attempts. For more information about AIDA, please visit http://www.aida-international.org.

Gold Star Dive — July 10
The 7th Annual Gold Star Dive on Catalina Island at the Casino Point Underwater Park will be held on July 10. The event is hosted by the Avalon Sheriff’s Station and sponsored by several dive shops, and companies associated with diving. This event will be a fund-raiser for the Avalon Sheriff’s Station’s S.T.A.R. (Success Through Awareness & Resistance) program and the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.

Scuba divers and skin divers will search for the Gold Stars in depths between 10 feet and 50 feet. The Gold Stars will measure approximately five inches by five inches, vacuum-packed, numbered, and made of solid chocolate. The Gold Stars will be placed among the rock formations in the Casino Dive Park. Divers will have an hour and a half to search for the Gold Stars. Participants who find a Gold Star will return the number to the check-in table for a prize. Those numbers not found will be raffled off, along with non-diver prizes.

All scuba divers must be certified and attend a pre-dive briefing at Casino Point prior to the event. T-shirts, hot dogs, and sodas will be available for sale. For further information, call (310) 510-0174, or e-mail klclevel@lasd.org.

L.A. Co. Advanced Diver Program — begins July 10
Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Underwater Instructors Association, has announced dates for the 2004 Advanced Diver Program (ADP). Beginning July 10, local divers can take part in this wholly unique diving program that is designed specifically with California divers in mind. Participants will be exposed to the skills that will create a more confident and well-informed diver in a practical hands-on environment. With over 20 ocean dives planned and led by a staff of experienced instructors, the opportunity to have a great time and become better divers has never been easier. In addition, participants will meet with and learn from some of the most influential and respected people in diving today. Toss in a couple of barbecues, the best diving in Southern California, and the chance to make new diving buddies and you have the makings of something special. For more details and to sign-up, contact the LA County Underwater Unit at 310-965-828 or e-mail adpinfo@lascuba.com. For information visit http://www.lascuba.com online.

Summer Ocean Workshop for Teens — July 19-23
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s summer workshop “Marine Sci Hi” gives 9th - 12th graders a chance to explore oceanography and marine biology at an advanced level. Students will observe sea life, test water quality parameters, learn about environmental issues and more from staff who are responsible for these tasks.

This session is offered Monday through Friday, July 19 - 23, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is located at 3720 Stephen White Drive in San Pedro, and is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

For reservations, further information or to receive a calendar of events, please call (310)548-7562 or visit the web site www.cabrilloaq.org.

DAN Instructor Trainer Workshop & Instructor Updates — July 26-27
The DAN Training Department announces there are open slots for Instructor Trainer Workshops (ITWs) and Instructor Updates taking place July 7-8 in Denver, Colorado and July 26-27, Newport Beach, CA.

The first day will feature DAN Instructor Trainer Workshops on REMO, Advanced Oxygen, Basic Life Support for Dive Professionals (BLSPRO) and Diving Emergency Management Provider (DEMP) Marketing from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. From 6:30-7:30 p.m. there will be a Remote Emergency Medical Oxygen (REMO2) Trainer and Instructor Update for those previously certified in REMO2. The second day will have a DAN Sustaining Status Instructor Trainer Update from 8:30 a.m.-noon and a DAN Sustaining Status Instructor Update from 1:30-5 p.m. From 6:30-8:30 p.m. there will be a DAN REMO2 Instructor Qualification Course.

More information, including downloadable registration forms, are available online at www.diversalertnetwork.org/news/article.asp?newsid=340.