Marine Species ID Class - Oct. 1
The Catalina Conservancy Divers (CCD) 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 CCD. Phase II is a slide show quiz on what Dr. Given covers in the lecture, and a talk 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 at seven dive sites around Catalina Island by the CCD.
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. 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 and reservations are not necessary, but a $5 donation to the Cabrillo aquarium at the door is suggested. The lecture will be on Sunday (10-1-00) at 9 a.m. to 12 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.
Mendocino Area Parks Association will host the 7th Annual Abalone Festival from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 8.
Activities for the festival will consist of an abalone cookoff, crafts and art, and information and display booths. Proceeds from this event will be used by the Mendocino Area Parks Association to support educational programs and by the Department of Fish And Game for abalone research and preservation.
Cooks for the cookoff will be limited to 50 with an entrance fee of $10 which includes a cook's apron and T-shirt. There will be a limit of 550 judges who will sample prepared abalone recipes. A $25 minimum donation requested per judge.
Prizes for cooks are courtesy of Subsurface Progression dive shop located in Fort Bragg. The third place winner will receive diving fins, mask, and snorkel. A diving wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves will be given for second place. First place prize will be a Caribbean vacation (8 days, 7 nights at Villa "Tunich-Nah" in the Yucatan).
For further information contact: Ford House Visitor Center (707) 937-5397.
SARR Underwater is an in-depth public safety diving workshop sponsored by the Ventura County Sheriffs Underwater Search and Rescue Team. The workshop will feature many interesting presentations and the opportunity to meet with other Southern California Dive Team members. This event will take place at the Casa Sirena Hotel, located in Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, CA., on October 14. For more information contact: Larry Fuller (805) 647-6992, E-mail Wtrwezel@aol.com. Registrations forms can be found on the Ventura County Sheriffs Underwater Search and Rescue Teams website at VCSARDIVE.ORG.
The Historical Diving Society will host its 5th annual "Dive into History" on October 21 at The California State Reserve at Point Lobos. Come learn about little known but very interesting aspects of California diving history. Divers and non-divers will have an opportunity to see a diver in old "hard-hat" gear suit up and walk into the cove (qualified and registered divers being able to photograph the "hard-hat" diver in the water), view a display of old dive gear, and attend a luncheon and talks on Guadacanal by Mike Smith and "The Unknown Heros of Cannery Row by Scrap Lundy. To make reservations, call 831-624-8413, identify yourself as part of the "Dive into History," and specify if you are diving, doing lunch, or both.
The 38th Annual International Underwater Photographic Competition, sponsored by the Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society, is underway. Entries are being accepted in 14 print, slide and video categories. The deadline for entry is October 21.
First place awards include exotic overseas live-aboard and land-based trips. Additional prizes will be awarded to 4th place in each category and include a valuable array of scuba, video and photo equipment donated from generous sponsors including Kodak and Weldon Color Labs.
Entry forms, rules and a full sponsor list are available at www.LAUPS.org. Additional information is available by mail at LAUPS, P.O. Box 2401, Culver City, CA 90231.
The Two Harbor Dive and Recreation Center and Two Harbors Resort announce the 4th Annual Two Harbors Underwater Clean Up on October 21. Participants will have a chance to dive inside Isthmus Cove, at beautiful Santa Catalina Island, and collect treasure, trash, and debris to benefit our environment. All proceeds for this worthwhile and fun outing will benefit the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber, the most active treatment facility for diving accidents on the West Coast. It relies heavily on donations and volunteer efforts, such as this great event.
Following the clean-up dive, all participants will have their "treasures" scrutinized by a panel of judges, and prizes will be awarded in specific categories (most humorous, antique, valuable, etc.). In addition, tickets are sold for prize drawings for both participants and volunteers. The after clean up barbecue gives divers, snorkelers, and volunteer kayakers the chance to share their tales of treasure lost and found.
On sight sign up begins at 9 a.m., the mandatory briefing at 9:30 a.m., and diving begins at 10 a.m. Entry fee for the event is $20 per participant, and includes the commemorative tee shirt. Lunch tickets are sold separately for $8. Drawing tickets are $1 each.
For more info and early registration, please contact the Two Harbors Dive and Recreation Center at the (310) 510-4272.
The Central Coast Working Equipment Group and Santa Barbara City College are sponsoring a unique opportunity for divers to experience classic deep sea dive gear otherwise known as "heavy-gear." Certified divers and diving enthusiasts will get first hand experience using US Navy Mark V, abalone, and Kirby-Morgan air "hard-hat" dive gear. The instructors include famous diving equipment designer, Bob Kirby; commercial diving expert, Bob Christiansen;
author, Scrap Lundy; Director of the SBCC Marine Diving Technology Dept., Don Barthelmess; and diving consultant, Skip Dunham. The workshop will take place the weekend of November 3-5 at Santa Barbara City College's Marine Diving Technology Facility. For more information, call 805-965-0581 ext. 2427 or e-mail: barthelm@sbcc.net. Cost for the workshop is $375 and includes all materials, instruction, and Saturday BBQ lunch. The workshop is limited to 16 persons.
