 |
 |
Iron Eagle $1,000 Spear In Gear Contest — March 1-3
The winner in Iron Eagle’s First Annual Spear in Gear Contest takes home $1,000. The largest legal fish taken on the trip wins the grand prize. Plus there will be an end of the season lobster contest — $250 for Saturday’s largest lobster. The trip will board on Friday, March 1st at 9 p.m., departing midnight for either San Clemente or Santa Barbara Island and then on to Farnsworth Bank on Sunday (weather permitting). For more information contact Ocean Sports Adventures at 949-699-6145, email Ranaye@OceanSportsAdventures.com or on the web at http://www.oceansportsadventures.com.
Certified Divers Free Admission to Aquarium at Divers’ Day - March 17
The Aquarium of the Pacific will celebrate its first annual Divers’ Day, Sunday, March 17, featuring free admission for certified divers, booths from various marine and dive related organizations, live equipment demonstrations and more. To enjoy free admission, divers must present valid proof of certification with photo I.D., and the public may also enjoy this event with regular admission.
For a full story, click here. For more information call 562-590-3100 or visit http://www.aquariumofpacific.org on the web.
Casino Point Scuba Trail - March 30
The Catalina Conservancy Divers are once again providing divers with the Casino Point Scuba Trail experience in Avalon’s Underwater Park. Each scheduled day 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 first scheduled date for the Scuba Trail Is Saturday March 30. The trail is available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (weather permitting) and is free. Additional dates will occur through the year, on Saturdays, every other month on odd numbered months. For specific dates visit the Catalina Conservancy website at http://www.ccd.org.
If you would like more information about the Catalina Conservancy Divers or the Casino Point Scuba Trail, call 310-510-9452.
GLACD’s Town Hall Meeting on Marine Protected Areas - April 2
The Greater Los Angeles Council of Divers (GLACD) will be holding its second presentation in a series of meetings concerning the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), which mandates that California establish a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The intent of these meetings is to solicit input from the diving community on the MPAs that are proposed for implementation along California’s Coastline. These meetings are not intended to be for or against this implementation, but rather are intended to disseminate information about the MPAs, and survey the diving community about their concerns so that we may adequately represent the interests of divers in Southern California. After gathering input from divers, GLACD will collaborate with the other three Councils in California and provide input to the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). The meeting will be held Tuesday, April 2nd, at the Whaler’s Dive Club monthly meeting at Zig’s restaurant in Woodland Hills. Contact Whaler’s member Steve Patchis at 818-341-2337 for information about the monthly Whaler’s Dive Club meeting.
A member from DFG will be present at the meeting to update the community on the recent changes in the MLPA Process and the revision to the plans announced last summer.
Additional meetings will be held throughout the year to address the progress of the MPA implementation and to keep an open avenue of communication between divers and DFG during the political process. Information will be posted on the GLACD website at http://www.glacd.org. GLACD strongly encourage all divers to attend this meeting to learn the issues and provide us with input on your concerns. In order for this process to be successful, GLACD needs input from as wide a range of the diving community as possible.
14th Annual Catalina Chamber Day/Evening — May 1
Wednesday, May 1, has been selected as the date for Catalina Chamber Day/Evening 2002, the 14th annual fund raiser to benefit the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.
Hyperbaric chambers are the only means of treating embolism and bends, life-threatening maladies that can affect divers. Although diving is very safe, it is important these facilities be available in the event of a diving emergency. Because of the high amount of diving done in Southern California, the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber is quite active. Even though Los Angeles County funds a large portion of this chamber’s costs, a substantial amount of the budget must come from other sources.
Catalina Chamber Day was conceived as a way for recreational divers to have fun diving (and partying) while at the same time making a financial contribution to this important facility. With the day-time portion of the event, now in its 14th year, Southern California dive-charter boats graciously donate their time and services for the day, and divers pay to dive Catalina Island aboard one of the participating boats. Boats visiting Catalina will also take their passengers on a walking tour of the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber facilities. There will be thousands of dollars in prizes. More raffle tickets can be purchased. For those that want to participate in the daytime event, but cannot get away from work to go diving, book a trip on the phantom “Flying Dutchman” boat.
Those divers (and their loved ones) unable to get away mid-week for the diving, along with those that dived Catalina that day, can also participate in the Chamber Evening, hosted by the magnificent Aquarium of the Pacific. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the aquarium, after hours, and have a sit-down dinner in the aquarium’s Great Hall. In addition to the aquatic entertainment, there will be door prizes, awards and musical entertainment.
And finally, there will be the Jon Hardy Chamber Challenge, a challenge from the dive industry to raise unprecedented funds in the memory of the late Jon Hardy, diving educator.
All proceeds from the event go to support the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.
To sign up for the event, call 310-652-4990. Major credit cards are accepted. Requests to be on a specific boat can be made at sign-up. Complete information can be found on the web at http://www.chamberday.org.