California Diving Icons Awarded

The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) recognized some of diving's greatest contributing members with their Reaching Out Awards on January 13.

Three of this year's four recipients base their operations in California. This year's four winners from California are Al Giddings, Howard Hall and Ron Merker for their contributions to the dive industry.

Al Giddings is well known in the entertainment industry for his underwater directing and shooting of highly acclaimed films such as Titanic, The Deep, and several James Bond classics. Never settling for off-the-shelf technology, Giddings designed innovative camera, lighting and optical systems to improve film and video quality.

Howard Hall is considered one of the most accomplished and skilled underwater cameramen today. His dedication to bringing the beauty of the deep to the surface through his many Emmy winning films such as, Into the Deep, has brought him recognition, not only with the diving industry, but with his entertainment peers as well.

Ron Merker has been an active diver for 48 years and has dedicated his life to educating and spreading his love of the activity to everyone he touches. He has written for Skin Diver Magazine, lectured throughout the U.S. on diving, and has been responsible for inspiring thousands of new divers to become active in the excitement of the underwater world.

Catalina Island scored very high in the annual reader poll for Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine. Catalina ranked in the top ten for best overall destination, #2 for shore diving, and #5 for topside attractions. Catalina Scuba Luv, a dive operator on the island, ranked #7 for best dive operator nationwide. Catalina Scuba Luv offers complete diving packages and services for divers of all skill levels. For more information on dive packages through Catalina Scuba Luv call (800) 262-DIVE.

Catalina Underwater Photo Shootout in the Works

A Catalina-based underwater photo shootout is in the planning stages. Tentative dates for the event are the second weekend in November. Included would be various categories, including novice in which a camera would also be loaned to the participant. Base of the shootout would be Avalon and may include additional activities such as equipment trials, topside photo contest, and a social function. The event would benefit the Catalina Island Mooring Buoy Project. For information, contact Catalina Scuba Luv, (310) 510-2350.

Catalina Express Triples Capacity from Dana Point

Catalina Express has increased its capacity between Dana Point Harbor and Catalina Island with the introduction of a larger, 150-passenger vessel into service as of October 27, 1998. Catalina Express initiated daily service from Dana Point Harbor on June 25, 1998 with a 50-passenger vessel.

According to Greg Bombard, president of Catalina Express, "We're delighted with the strong response to the Dana Point service since our launch just four months ago." Bombard noted that the majority of passengers taking advantage of the new Southern California port to the popular island getaway are residents from nearby South Orange County and North San Diego County.

To facilitate the increased passenger capacity, Catalina Express has leased 100 parking spaces from the Dana Point Marine Company for exclusive use by Catalina passengers. The parking lot, which is adjacent to the Best Western Marina Inn, is less than a five-minute walk from Dana Wharf Sportfishing's dock facility. There is a daily parking fee.

Catalina Express operates the Dana Point service in connection with Dana Wharf Sportfishing, which handles on-site ticket sales and passenger boarding. Daily service to Catalina Island from Dana Point will continue to be offered during the winter months.

The 32-mile trip from Dana Point to Catalina takes approximately one hour and 45 minutes. Fares are the same as those charged from San Pedro and Long Beach.

In the spring of 1999, the company will introduce a technically advanced, all-aluminum custom catamaran into service from Los Angeles/Long Beach. The new generation of high-speed ferry will carry 300 passengers at a cruising speed in excess of 37 knots (40 mph). The new vessel is expected to reduce channel crossing time by an additional 10 to 15 minutes.

For reservations and information on the expanded Dana Point service to Catalina, call Catalina Express at (800) 429-4601.

California Ocean Web Site

New to the web is the California Ocean and Coastal Environmental Access Network (Cal OCEAN). Cal OCEAN offers browsing by theme and geographic area. A clickable map depicting California's coastal geographic regions offers the user an opportunity to query data catalogs and other websites for information relevant to a specific region. It has lots of info and jump links for divers: http://ceres.ca.gov/ocean.

New Committee to Look at Kelp Harvesting in Monterey

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council recently discussed the issue of kelp harvesting. Many question the appropriateness of commercially harvesting thousands of tons of kelp annually from a Marine Sanctuary. A co-operative organization composed of the six local kelp-cutting companies is about to be granted self-regulatory authority. No significant input will be permitted to this group from those opposing their extensive use of the kelp "resource."