Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup a Success
Excellent weather greeted over 500 divers February 20 as they participated in the 19th Annual Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup. The event was a tremendous success, pulling 3,400 pounds of trash from the harbor bottom and raising approximately $10,000 to be split between the Catalina Conservancy Divers and the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.
The annual event clears Avalon harbor of debris that accumulates from the thousands of visitors who visit Avalon each year. Fortunately, the amount of trash recovered on the cleanup has been declining showing an awareness by visitors to respect the environment. There is, however, always a substantial amount of trash and treasures on the bottom for the divers to find and recover. This year's 3,400 pounds of trash brings the total for the last nine years to over 60,000 pounds.
As usual, prizes were awarded in categories for trash that were fun and humorous. The coveted Ken Kurtis Silver-Tongue Devil Award (otherwise known as the B.S. award) went to Barb Dowell of the Dive N' Surf dive team. Barb had recovered a human tooth. She then weaved a tale on how, unknown to the White House, "Monica" was a biter and evidence had now been recovered from the bottom of Avalon Harbor. The award was a wood plaque with a petrified piece of bison dung, painted gold.
Other less illustrious awards were for the oldest: a 1921 penny recovered by Beth Tobin; smallest: a toy "no parking" sign; most dangerous: 235 bullets recovered by "Divers in Black" team; and most valuable: a gold ring. Other items found included a plastic foot, marijuana pipe, child's bike, propane stove, and hundreds of bottles and cans.
The Golden Flipper Award is a perpetual trophy recognizing individuals who have contributed greatly in the cleanup effort for many years. It went to Dale and Kim Sheckler, publishers of California Diving News and producers of the annual SCUBA Show aboard the Queen Mary.
The success of the event is owed to dozens of business contributing hundreds of prizes, as well as the organizational efforts of many volunteers. Many valuable prizes were given out in both the door prize and raffle drawings. Next year's event will take place Saturday, February 26, 2000.
SSI and NASDS Merge
SSI (Scuba Schools International) and NASDS (National Association Of Scuba Diving Schools) are joining forces to provide better services to dealers, instructors and divers everywhere.
Both companies operate under essentially the same business philosophies. In fact, in 1970, as a result of irresolvable differences, several members of the NASDS hierarchy walked away from the organization they helped build, and SSI was born. In the years since 1970, while each agency has been successful separately, they recognize that much of their efforts are expended in the parallel development of products and programs.
As the result of numerous discussions over the past several years and at the urging of many of their dealers&emdash;Bob Clark (SSI's Founder and CEO) and Doug McNeese (CEO of NASDS)&emdash;decided that by working together for one common goal, they could concentrate on the development and production of an expanded line of fine products and programs designed for dealers and instructors.
Current members of the respective organizations will immediately benefit from the products and programs of the other. There will be a transition period during which the dealers themselves will determine which of the current products and programs will best serve their needs. Doug McNeese assumed his duties as Executive Director of Scuba Schools International on February 1, 1999. Ed Christini will remain as President, and Bob Clark will continue as CEO.
For more information, visit www.ssiusa.com on the web or call (970) 482-0883.
Divers Needed for Research Expeditions
The University of California Research Expeditions Program (UREP) is looking for scuba divers and snorkelers to join marine research expeditions this summer. Participants will assist UC researchers on a survey of coral reef diversity off the Caribbean island of St. Croix; study alien mollusks which have invaded Monterey Bay, California, or survey and collect specimens of the crustaceans eaten by grey whales off the picturesque northwest coast of Canada.
Each participant is an active member of the field team and helps support the research by making a financial contribution, which covers their food and lodging, as well as part of the research costs. Team members on the Caribbean and Monterey Bay will lodge in private homes, a tented camp will be home for the Canada expedition team.
No prior experience is necessary and the costs qualify as tax-deductible charitable donations. Most projects last 10-14 days. Advanced scuba is necessary for the Monterey Bay project. Non-diving positions are available on the others.
For more information on these and other archaeological and environmental research studies worldwide, visit UREP's web page at http://urep.ucdavis.edu or call 530-752-0692 or email: urep@ucdavis.edu.
DAN Oxygen Regulator Recall
DAN announces that Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. is recalling all oxygen regulators sold under the Life Support Products (LSP) brand. This recall, first announced on February 4 by Allied Healthcare Products, Inc., is to replace aluminum components in the unit's high-pressure chamber with brass components. This action is being taken in response to reports of fires and explosions, the exact causes of which remain unknown.
DAN has sold two regulators that are affected by the recall. The two regulators are the LSP 270-020 and the LSP 280-020. These regulators were sold in the DAN Standard, Dual, Mini, Charter and Training Unit oxygen systems from 1985-1997. This recall does not affect the DAN Rescue Pak, Rescue Pak Plus and the regulators that are sold with those systems, the B & F Regulator (Part # 84025G) and the Allied Spectrum Regulator (Part # 32-29-5551).
The recall is being undertaken in cooperation with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to minimize a potential for fires and explosions, an inherent risk with any high-pressure oxygen delivery system.
In May 1997, Allied conducted a recall to add a sintered bronze filter to the regulator. All regulators should already be fitted with this sintered bronze filter. Any regulators without a sintered bronze filter, and all regulators manufactured by LSP's predecessor corporation, Robertshaw Controls Company, Inc., should be taken out of service immediately. If the regulator was bought after May 1997 or retrofitted pursuant to the May 1997 recall, the regulator should already have the sintered bronze filter installed.
This, in conjunction with present recall efforts, will result in the replacement of all-aluminum high-pressure parts with brass parts. This interim measure will enable the regulators to be used during the period required to manufacture non-aluminum regulators.
DAN has established a relationship with Riley's Emergency Medical Repair Center Inc., an Allied authorized service center, that will be equipped to handle the recall within the next few weeks. DAN Members who have purchased any DAN Oxygen Unit will receive a mailing with details about how to have their regulators serviced.
For more information, contact: Recall Coordinator Telephone: (800) 231-5273 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CST) E-mail: RRC@alliedhpi.com Fax: (314) 771-1806.
To get your oxygen regulator serviced immediately, send it to: Riley's Emergency Medical Repair Center Inc. 3129 Demaret Drive Titusville, FL 32780 USA (407) 268-3342
Correction
In the March 1999 issue, under the New Gear section the article entitled Portable Hyperbaric Chamber had an incorrect phone number. The correct contact is Bud Dreas at phone number (562) 590-7290.