Lady Lobstermaniac

Opening day of lobster season 1998 proved to be successful, as always, for the lobster maniacs who dive with Kenny Hess and Charisma Charters. This year the ladies who make this annual trip had a few surprises for the men. Don't think for a second that they can't hold their own with the best of the best lobster hunters. A little challenge is all it'll take to send them in search of the big bugs.

For the past ten years my dive partner Karen Yates and myself have made the annual lobster season opening day dive on the dive boat Encore. Karen is one of Southern California's best lady bug divers. While this trip each year brings out some of the best men bug divers, the ladies cannot be taken lightly.

Our first day of diving at the Cortes Bank proved to be too dangerous for most of the divers on board. The weather conditions at the banks is always questionable this time of year so diving can be very hazardous. We moved the boat to San Clemente Island for calmer seas. San Clemente Island is not known for great concentrations of big lobsters. Given enough time though the lady divers started to catch some impressive bugs.

While I was taking a little break from diving, my friend Karen decided to do a little hunting with one of the other lady divers on this trip. We were diving near the block house in the Pyramid Cove area, when Karen found this ten-pound bug. She worked on this monster for an entire dive before it finally ended up in her game bag. Chalk one up for the girls. This lady is a serious game hunter.

Submitted by Lyle Miller

New Reefs proposed for Orange County

Southern California Edison announced plans to cultivate artificial reefs off the Orange County Coast. The Reefs will be planted to specifically cultivate kelp to make up for the loss of kelp from the outfall waters of San Onofre nuclear power plant. Studies have shown that a fine sediment from the outfall waters prevented the anchorage of kelp in the area. The first phase of the plan is set to start in the fall of 1999. Concrete or quarry rock will be laid down across 150 acres of ocean bottom. The material will act as an anchor point for kelp to grow. Once kelp is growing over these new reefs, marine life will move in and populate the areas.

Squid Fishers Reported to be Using Bombs,Rifles on Sea Lions

Divers reported that squid fishers operating as close as 1/4 mile off Catalina Island have allegedly been using small "bombs" and rifle fire to chase off sea lions, also a predator of squid. Unconfirmed reports state that dead and mutilated sea lions have washed ashore including one with its "head blown off."

Mask Blow-out Shows Importance
of Proper Water Entry

On a recent Channel Islands dive trip, the editor of this publication witnessed an unusual dive gear failure. As a diver jumped into the water, his mask face plate shattered on impact with the water. The diver had not done a giant-stride entry, nor had he covered his mask with hand as prescribed to keep the mask in place. He impacted the water face first. The diver was uninjured, save his pride, as humored divers from the boat deck laughed as he repeatedly tried to clear his mask, not realizing the glass was gone.

The giant-stride entry and other kinds of water entry taught in basic scuba certification classes are with one primary purpose in mind - - for divers to keep their gear intact and organized. On entry with the water the diver should have one hand on the face, covering the mask and regulator (in mouth) and one hand holding the weight belt buckle to prevent accidental release.

One thing the diver did do right: He chose a quality dive mask. He was uninjured because the mask was equipped with safety glass that shattered into small pieces rather than sharp daggers (it's similar to glass used in automobiles).

Treasure Hunter Mel Fisher Dies

The California diving community was saddened to hear of the loss of Treasure Hunter Extraordinare Mel Fisher. Mel Fisher died in December after a long battle with cancer. Mel began his diving and treasure career in Southern California as owner of the then Mel's Aqua Shop in Redondo Beach, now known as Sea D' Sea. In addition to his dive shop, Mel also owned his own dive boat the Golden Doubloon , christened so perhaps as a glimpse of things to come. He became world famous, however, with his treasure finds off the coast of Florida, most notably the multi-million dollar find of the Spanish galleon Atocha. Mel will be missed.