Withering Syndrome Continues to Kill Abalone
First observed in the late 1990s, a Withering Foot Syndrome was observed in California abalone. This condition causes the foot to shrink and weaken, resulting in death of the mollusk. Since 1988, over 90 percent of the black abalone in Southern California have died to the syndrome. It was hoped that the warm El Niño waters of the late 90s aided the propagation of the disease and the populations would recover when the colder waters returned. This is not the case as black abalone populations continue to decline in Southern California.

Pill May Prevent Bends
A team at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found in both animals and humans that intense exercise around 20 hours before a simulated dive in a pressure chamber dramatically reduced bubble formation. The researchers believe that exercise stimulates the release of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and makes them more slippery, reducing the production of large bubbles. It might be possible to give divers drugs to mimic the effect of exercise. In fact, the team has now shown that giving mice a nitric oxide-releasing drug, or nitric oxide itself, reduces bubble formation. Could an anti-bends pill appear in your pharmacy in a few years?

Sea Diver’s President Allen Parker Steps Down
The Sea Diver’s dive club, sponsored by American Diving of Lomita, has been a fixture in Southern California Diving for many years. For 15 of those year’s, Allen Parker has led the club as its president. Parker will stay active in the club, and long time member Erik Storsteen has taken over the helm.

“The future is wide open,” stated new president Storsteen. “The club has some great new dives this year and I’m looking forward to doing them.”

The Sea Divers meet every first Tuesday of the month at Round Table Pizza in Torrance and participates in many dive trips each year. For more information on the Sea Divers, visit their web site at www.seadivers.org.

New Beach Access in Malibu
Californians will enjoy new beach access in Malibu with the acquisition of a vacant beachfront lot, for which the Coastal Conservancy approved $1,250,00. The narrow, cobbled lot near the intersection of Rambla Vista and Pacific Coast Highway adjoins a parcel acquired by the Conservancy in 2000, near the border of Carbon and La Costa Beaches. Together, the two properties include almost 400 feet of shoreline and offer the only public beach access along a three-mile stretch of the highway. Public parking is nearby. —from the Coastal Conservancy