Catalina Chamber Day/Evening - May 3
May 3 is the Catalina Chamber Day/Evening 2000, the fund raiser to benefit the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber. This year's event is special because it is the Chamber's 25th anniversary.
Hyperbaric chambers are the only means of treating embolism and bends, life-threatening maladies that can affect divers. Although diving is 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 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 12th year, dive-charter boats operating out of Southern California donate their time and services for the day, and divers pay to dive Catalina Island aboard one of the participating boats. Participants are also given a tour of the Catalina Chamber facilities.
Those unable to get away for the day of diving, along with those that dived that day, can also participate in the Chamber Evening, hosted by the Long Beach Aquarium. Participants 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.
Michael Kane, an avid diver, is again presenting his $10,000 challenge. Every $100 or more donated to the chamber before May 3 will be matched by Mr. Kane up to $10,000. Contributions can come from individuals or organizations.
Also in conjunction with Chamber Day, Sport Chalet stores (22 locations throughout Southern California) will donate all income from rental and air fills May 3-7.
All proceeds from the event go to support the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber. To sign up for the event, or participate in the Michael Kane Challenge, call (310) 652-4990. Credit cards accepted. Requests to be on a specific boat can be made at sign-up.
The fifth annual Santa Barbara Underwater Film Festival will be held Friday, May 5 at UCSB's Campbell Hall. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. and is a tribute to local diving pioneer Lad Handelman.
This year's program recognizes the accomplishments of Lad Handelman, a local commercial diver and businessman. Handelman started his career as an abalone diver and later founded a small company on Stearns Wharf called Cal Dive. Cal Dive evolved into the largest commercial diving firm in the world, Oceaneering International.
The show will include historical footage from the early days of commercial diving in Santa Barbara, presented by Dr. Phil Nuytten, Peter Howorth and Bob Evans. Many of the local diving pioneers will be remembered in their shows. Wildlife photographers Tom Campbell and Douglas Cummings will also show underwater images from around the world under the sea.
The program is a benefit for several local diving scholarships, including the SBCC Ramsey Parks' Memorial Scholarship and the UCSB Nejat Ezal Memorial Scholarship. Parks was the first director of the SBCC Marine Diving Technology Program. Ezal was a graduate student at UCSB who died an untimely death off Catalina Island. Tickets are on sale for $10 at supporting Santa Barbara and Ventura dive shops or by calling 805-893-8739.
The Catalina Conservancy Divers is offering a marine species identification class for divers wanting to improve their marine life identification skills. Dr. Bob Given noted marine biologist and former director of the Catalina Marine Science Center will be giving a slide show lecture. This will be the first phase of three phases of a scientific research certification class offered in the Spring and Fall to members of the Catalina Conservancy Divers. Phase II is a slide show quiz on what Dr. Given covers in the lecture, and discussion on data collecting techniques. Phase III is two identification skills check out dives at the Casino Point Underwater Park at Catalina.
Divers completing the three phases will be eligible to participate in the key species I.D. project where data is being collected and monitored at seven dive sites around Catalina Island by the Conservancy Divers. Phase I (Dr. Bob Givens lecture) is open to the general public for those interested in improving their identification skills and increasing their marine species I.D. vocabulary. Reservations are not necessary. There will be a question and answer period following the lecture, and a tour of the aquarium, where the marine organisms that have been discussed can be viewed. Phase I attendance is free, but a $5 donation to the aquarium at the door is suggested. The lecture will be on Saturday, May 6 at 9 a.m. until noon. Participation in Phase II and III require membership in the Catalina Conservancy Divers. For those interested in membership information in the CCD, call Erica at (310) 510-2595 Ext. 114 or for class sign up call Ted at (714) 960-2304, or visit the CCD web site at www.ccd.org. for more details.
The 9th Annual Lake Perris Underwater Cleanup will take place May 13. The event is sponsored by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Search and Recovery Team. Festivities will begin at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for some of the more outstanding and/or unusual trash and for found "Golden Eggs" planted underwater.
For information or registration contact Tony Wiley's SCUBA Locker at (909) 682-DIVE or email dive@scubalocker.com, co-sponsor of this event and team contributor.
The Greater Los Angeles Council of Divers (GLACD) and the Los Angeles County Underwater Instructor's Association (LACUIA) have joined to produce a series of courses designed to safely introduce divers to popular, local beach dive sites. The May 20th course will take place at Leo Carillo State Beach in northwest Los Angeles County.
Conducted by certified Scuba Instructors, the Rocks, Rips, and Reefs (3Rs) course includes a short educational seminar covering safe beach diving skills, certain aspects of the local marine environment, and other valuable site-specific information. The seminar is followed by an in-water demonstration and practice session that includes a skin diving tour of the actual dive site.
Topics and skills covered in the course include: safe entry and exit skills, identifying, anticipating, and navigating hidden obstacles in the surf zone, how to use the ocean s natural wave motion to your advantage, how to read the ocean's surface, using tide tables to plan a dive, choosing entry and exit points, how to find cool stuff at each location
Participants are required to wear a full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, and fins. A weight belt with no more than half of the normal diving weight is optional. Tanks and regulators are not allowed during the program, but may be brought along if you plan to make a dive after the class is over. After completing the in-water practice, a bar-b-que will follow. Participants are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and plan on socializing afterwards.
SCUBA certification is not required to participate in the 3R's courses. Classes begin at 8:00 a.m. Arrive and check in at 7:45 a.m.
For more information, call GLACD at (310) 379-5681 or visit the GLACD website at www.glacd.org. You can also visit the GLACD exhibit booth #237 at SCUBA Show 2000, June 3-4 at the Long Beach Convention Center.
June 3 &4 - SCUBA Show 2000, Long Beach. Largest dive expo in Western U.S. (310) 792-2333, www.saintbrendan.com or in this issue, click here.
June 11 - Redondo Beach King Harbor U/W Cleanup. Call (310) 813-2955.
June 11 - International Dive-In Day. Visit www.h-heads.com on the web.
June 17 - 3Rs Beach Dive Course, Cabrillo Bch., San Pedro (see previous description)
July 8 - L.A. County Advanced Diver Program begins. Call (310) 965-8258
July 15 - NEW DATE - Sinking of the Yukon off San Diego. (619) 523-1903. or at www.hmcs-yukon.org.
