Catalina Sinkhole?
The sandy bottom at Arrow Cove (a.k.a. Starlight Cove) on Catalina Island has become unstable and is apparently dropping away. Previously, the bottom off the stern of the small sail wreck in the cove at 45 feet had sloped away gently. Now the bottom drops away rapidly to more than 100 feet. It is unclear the reason for this dramatic change, but there have been reports of bubbles rising from the bottom in the area.

Record Abalone Taken of North Coast
A 6.4 pound abalone, 20 percent larger than the previous record, was taken by Matt Lum off the Sea Ranch district of Mendocino County, CA. The red abalone was taken in 12 feet of water. This is the largest abalone, by weight, ever taken. The shell was nearly 11 inches at its widest point, but more significant, was an incredible thickness of 4.21 inches.

12 Pound Lobster Caught and Released
Kyaa Heller, deckhand for the dive charter boat Sundiver (Long Beach, CA) caught a 12 pound lobster (a large bug by any standards) at an undisclosed location off Catalina Island October 2, the day after the opening day of lobster season. The lobster was tagged by Cal State Long Beach researchers and then released into the Blue Cavern Marine Preserve off the dive boat Sundiver. The Blue Cavern Marine Preserve is considered one of the most pristine preserves along the West Coast. While diving is permitted, nothing may be taken or disturbed and anchoring is not allowed. In addition it is regularly patrolled by the Isthmus Cove Harbor Patrol and officials at the nearby USC/Wrigley Marine Science Center (Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber location).

Commercial Fishers May Lobby to Reopen Ab Take
There are rumblings that commercial fishing interests are gearing up to lobby for the reopening of the take of abalone at San Miguel Island and the Farallon Islands. Due to disease and overfishing the stock of abs in Southern California was nearly made extinct by the 1990s. In response, the fishery, both sport and commercial, was closed in 1997 south of San Francisco. Sport-take of abalone was continued north of San Francisco at a reduced limit and by breath-hold diving only. While there is some antidotal evidence that abalone has made a minor recovery, no thorough scientific studies have been made to assess the population, its health and rate of growth.

Dive Business Seeing Red
Red, a popular dive equipment accent color in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, virtually died out in the last 10 years for reasons unknown. The color, however, is making a comeback. More manufacturers are offering the option that is bound to be popular. Red accents the diver in artificial light (dive light or strobe) but at deeper depths becomes indistinguishable from black to the marine life in ambient light. This gives the diver wearing the red accent a stealth edge. Another advantage is that on the surface, red can be easily picked out by divemasters, boaters or rescuers.