Plane Crashes, Sinks Near Goat Harbor, Catalina Island
On Saturday November 3 a single engine private plane made an emergency ditch into the sea in waters just west of Goat Harbor at Catalina Island. All three on board were rescued uninjured by a nearby boat. Some of those participating in the rescue, the Hemme family, are members of the Catalina Conservancy Divers. The plane sits upside down on a sand bottom 38 feet down, exact location undisclosed.

Avalon Underwater Park Name Change Killed
In spite of widespread support from the diving community, the city of Avalon has rejected the proposal to change the name of the Avalon Underwater Park to honor the late Jon Hardy.
Diving education and safety pioneer Jon Hardy passed away recently. He resided in Avalon on Catalina Island and conducted much of his business there, including the operation of his dive guide business.

Where the Lobster Are
Lobster hunting has been good along Palos Verdes and at Santa Cruz Island. Other good locations include Isthmus Reef at Catalina Island and the Santa Barbara coastline. Not only are a fair amount of lobster coming up at these locations, but many large bugs are being taken as well, even long after the season has been underway.
Conversely, San Clemente Island is not producing well. Lots of bugs, but most are undersized.

Great Water Visibility
Until the first major storm hit mid-November, remarkable water clarity reports were being made. Visibility of 30 to 50 feet along the coast were reported and up to 100 feet out at the islands. Better water clarity is the norm for this time of year but these numbers are exceptional. Typically, the water will take a few days to settle after a storm. Water visibility forecasts for December are excellent.

Governor Davis Vetos Rigs to Reefs Legislation; Diver Access to Rigs Cut
On October 13, Governor Gray Davis vetoed SB1 which would have allowed oil companies to cap old offshore oil wells and cut off the platforms beneath the surface, leaving the abundant life on and around the platforms intact. Much of the dollar savings by the oil companies by not having to completely remove the platforms would have been channeled into environmental study and enhancement programs. In his veto statement, Governor Davis said, “There is no conclusive evidence that converted platforms enhance marine species or produce net benefits to the environment.”
Hot on the heels of the veto, the oil companies quickly closed diver access to the platforms sighting security reasons based on the September 11 terrorist attacks. If security was the true issue, why did they wait until after the veto and not close the access immediately after September 11?

Point Lobos Inflatables Vandalized
In October, the two inflatable rescue boats at Point Lobos State Reserve were slashed and flattened. One is beyond repair. All of the associated emergency medical equipment, flares, life jackets, etc. were stolen. Fortunately, the engines were being serviced and were not attached to the boats. Those who wish to make a donation to help replace the stolen rescue equipment and repair the boats can send a check to the Point Lobos Natural History Association, Rural Route 1, Box 62, Carmel, CA 93923. Write on the check that it is for the rescue boats. PLNHA is a non-profit organization, and your donation is tax deductible.

Three Sanctuaries Looking for Diver Input
Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries will begin a public process later this year to jointly review their management plans. The public is encouraged to be involved in all phases of the review process.
A sanctuary management plan is a site-specific planning and management document that describes the objectives, policies, and activities for a sanctuary. Management plans generally outline regulatory goals, describe boundaries, identify staffing and budget needs, set priorities and performance measures for resource protection, research, and education programs. They also guide the development of future management activities. The National Marine Sanctuary System is required by law to periodically review sanctuary management plans to ensure that sanctuary sites continue to best conserve, protect, and enhance their nationally significant living and cultural resources. The management plans for the three northern and central California sanctuaries are between 9 and 15 years old. Each plan is clearly in need of review.
The sanctuaries encourage all interested parties to become involved in the joint management plan review by attending public scoping meetings, providing comments on the draft management plan, and becoming involved with local citizen group who are interested in how the sanctuaries are managed. For more information on how you can become personally involved, please visit the joint management plan web site at http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/jointplan or contact your local sanctuary office at:

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Sean Morton, Management Plan Coordinator
299 Foam Street
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 647-4217
E-mail: sean.morton@noaa.gov

Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries
Anne Walton, Management Plan Coordinator
Fort Mason, Building 201
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 561-6622
E-mail: anne.walton@noaa.gov

Cypress Point Heads South
One of the two “Cypress Boats,” the Cypress Point has been sold by Any Water Sports. The Cypress Point headed south to Santa Barbara in October. The Cypress Sea will still offer diver charters in the Monterey Area.

Shark and Ray Counts
The Ventura County Shark and Ray Count scuba team is reporting numerous sightings of Spiny Dogfish and patches of swell sharks “packed together” in holes and under rocks. This is good news since swell shark populations have thinned considerably in recent years for unknown reasons. This volunteer team also tags sharks to track their movements including the large angel shark. For more information on the Ventura County Shark and Ray count, visit their web site at http://www.sharkandraycount.com.