Casino Point Scuba Trail — September 10 and more
The Catalina Conservancy Divers are once again providing divers with the Casino Point Scuba Trail experience in Avalon’s Underwater Park 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 — September 10
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 September 10 at White Point on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. In Orange County there will be a session at Reef Point October 8.

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.

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.

Northern Channel Islands Chamber Day — Sept. 28
The Channel Islands Council of Divers (CICD) has announced that its annual Channel Islands Chamber Day dive will be September 28 aboard the Conception.

Channel Islands Chamber Days are supplemental to Catalina Chamber Day held in May. CICD represents the diving community in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Proceeds from the Chamber Day dives support the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber and CICD’s Uninsured Divers’ Fund.

The Catalina Chamber is devoted solely to the treatment of diving accidents, and depends on donations and volunteers to remain in operation. The CICD Uninsured Divers’ Fund is maintained to provide money for medical treatment of an unfortunate sport diver who may be unable to pay for treatment for a hyperbaric injury.

Participating charter dive boats generously donate their boats and crews, so that all income from the dives may be used for this charitable purpose. Dive trips will cost $85.

Current plans (dependent on weather and sea conditions) are for dive(s) on Platform Holly and then a dive at Naples Reef. Please note that rig dives are usually considered “Advanced Dives,” due to open sea currents, “no bottom” conditions, and the need to dive from and return to a boat that is “under power,” rather than at anchor.

For more information or reservations, call Angie at (805) 650-DIVE.

Lobster Contest — October 1
Sport Chalet is holding a lobster contest at select locations for the opening of lobster season, October 1, 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for the largest lobster. For more information, call these participating stores: Irvine 949-476-9555, Oxnard 909-335-3800, Point Loma 619-224-6777, Marina Del Rey 310-821-9400, and West Hills 818-710-0999.