M 2 The Presidents Corner

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1 FAIRFIELD COUNTY DIVING ASSOCIATION February 2008 Volume 15 Issue 2 Inside this Issue Presidents Corner Boston Sea Rovers Events of Interest FCDA Member Ads page 1 page 2 page 3 page 3 FCDA Raffle Winners page 4 Galapagos sea lions massacred page 4 I May Be Bent Now What? page 5 Salvor forced to reveal treasure source page 6 SCAPA FLOW IN 3D page 7 Next FCDA Meeting page 8 M 2 The Presidents Corner January 2008 Happy New Year!!! The holidays are behind us and winter is in full swing, it is cold outside and so was the inside of cottage for our first meeting of the year but after a few drinks and some time to catch up with friends and dive buddies that didn t seem to matter. The FCDA reconvened on January 25 th for another exciting year. It was standing room only for the meeting, was this for the fact that the position of President was open? And to keep yourself from getting nominated? Mike and I discussed during the break about sharing the responsibility and were dubiously nominated and elected, so for the first time in FCDA history we have two presidents Mike Cassetta and me. These are tough shoes to fill, as Chris did a great job last year, but then again there are two of us, I think we can handle it!!! We are excited about our new position and look forward to working with Mark, Paul and George. A new dive season is on the horizon and to get us all in the mood was Captain Bill Palmer of the Thunderfish with an exciting presentation on diving the S-5, just enough to wet our appetites for diving. We have a number of dives planned already including three trips on the Thunderfish and two trips to Cape Ann (July and September), with more to come, maybe an early season dive in February????? I am sure there will be the usual trips to Fort Wetherill and the Brownstone Quarry. Jeff Susa is looking to plan a long weekend to Virginia Beach in August to dive the Liberty ships and collect some treasures and ammunition (watch out for the live shells!!!). There are plenty of sites out there within driving distance, either day trips or long weekends, so let s get out and dive. Any suggestions on some new sites or trips you want to run just let Mel or Mike and I know and we can put them on the schedule. Check the website events section for dates and locations. You can contact Mel to sign up for the Thunderfish trips, there was a lot of interest at the meeting and they will fill up fast. The first trip is to the Onandaga, in about 50fsw and then maybe onto the Olinda, perfect for tuning your wreck skills. Other sites for the Thunderfish will be determined based on those who sign up and what interests we have. With the dive season approaching (continued on page 2)

2 Page 2 (continued from page 1) now is the time to start pulling the gear out, getting it serviced and see what needs to be replaced due to wear and tear. If you can, take some time and test your gear in one of the community center pools, all of the dive shops are running courses during the winter and will allow you to share some space in the pool. It is also a good time to take some of the courses that don t require open water dives Emergency First Responder, Enriched Air Nitrox etc. There are also many dive safety courses offered by DAN that you can find on their website It also may be a good time to make sure your DAN insurance is still active or if you don t have it you should consider getting it. Until next time..safe Diving!! P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT The Boston Sea Rovers 54th Annual International Underwater Clinic is less than two months away. Mark you calendars and join us on March 7-9 for a weekend dive education, networking, For tickets, and detailed information about workshops, seminars, exhibitors and the Saturday Evening Film Festival, go to: Order now and receive savings of up to $20 per person, avoid the lines, and ensure that you have tickets to the Evening Film Festival! (limited time offer) The Clinic features daytime seminars covering something for everyone, with topics including wreck diving, travel to exotic destinations, conservation, and the latest developments in dive science and medicine. Advanced workshops are available on over a dozen subjects from digital photography to drysuit repair, and over 60 exhibitors will be highlighting their equipment, destinations and local dive services. The highlight of the Clinic is the The Boston Sea Rovers 54th Annual International Underwater Clinic Saturday Evening Film Festival featuring Bob Talbot, Chuck Davis, and Jill Heinerth, among others. The Decompression Party follows the Evening Film Festival. Sunday we also offer a children s program. Throughout the weekend we will be giving away a large number of door prizes including equipment packages and dive trips. In addition, we will have a raffle, and a silent auction, the proceeds of which go to support the Frank Scalli Summer Internship and scholarships. The venue for the Boston Sea Rovers Clinic is the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. Rooms are available for a discounted price. Call and use code GRBSR1 or go to: CopleyPlaza/ See you the weekend of March 7-9, Internet mail: fcda@aol.com Board Presidents Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Matt Rownin & Mike Cassetta Mark Shannon George Sharrard Paul J. Gacek

3 Page 3 Events of Interest to FCDA Members February 23, th Annual Boston Scuba Show - Holiday Inn and Resort, Marlboro, MA. Tickets at $20 at the door or in advance. March 8-9, Boston Sea Rovers 54th Annual International Clinic - Fairmont Copley Hotel, Boston, MA. For more information visit Boston Sea Rovers 54th Annual International Clinic. March 28-30, Beneath The Sea Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ. For more information visit Beneath The Sea April 20, June 7, June 14, Annual FCDA Underwater Easter Egg Hunt/Beach Cleanup - 11:00 AM. Annual FCDA "Kick Off the Season" Clambake - 7:00 PM. Wreck Dive aboard Capt Bill Palmer's Thunderfish - Onondaga. For more information Mel Rich Jr or call (203) July 12-13, Dive Cape Ann - For more information Mel Rich Jr or call (203) July 19, Wreck Dive aboard Capt Bill Palmer's Thunderfish - For more information Mel Rich Jr or call (203) August 23, Wreck Dive aboard Capt Bill Palmer's Thunderfish - For more information Mel Rich Jr or call (203) September 19-21, Cape Ann Weekend - For more information Mel Rich Jr or call (203) FCDA Member Ads Hey - have you got a non retail-diving business that you d like to share with fellow members of FCDA? Get your business card size ad in the FCDA monthly newsletter Surface Interval for only $50.00 for one year. Give your business a boost and help support the production of our monthly newsletters. For more information, write to FCDA, P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT or to fcda@aol.com.

4 Page 4 Unnatural selection: Galapagos sea lions massacred GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, Ecuador (31 Jan 2008) The massacre of 53 sea lions in the Galapagos Islands this week has raised fears that efforts to conserve the archipelago's fragile ecosystem are being sabotaged. The sea lions were found with their skulls crushed on the remote island of Pinta. Ecuadorian authorities have ruled out poaching because no body parts were removed from the carcasses. "We can't discount the possibility that this was a revenge attack for the controls on illegal fishing that have been implemented in the past year," said Victor Carrion, Director of the Galapagos National Park. "Without doubt, this could happen again but we will continue to be vigilant and patrol the marine reserve." Half of the island's 30,000 residents are living there illegally and tourism numbers have trebled in the past 15 years, reaching 140,000 in Xavier Romero, who has worked as a guide on the islands since 1990, fears that such acts of violence will continue. "There is a hardcore criminal contingent who are unhappy with the stricter laws. They've been accustomed to fishing as they like and now that regulations are tighter, it seems they are resorting to violence to show the authorities that they can't be controlled," he said. The Ecuadorian government has recently introduced measures including stricter enforcement of immigration laws and it even threatened to ban tourism. The deaths of 53 sea lions have reignited concerns over the future of the remote archipelago. Eliecer Cruz, Governor of the Galapagos, said: "For 2009 we plan to double the tourist entrance fee to $200 [ 100] and increase the minimum stay on the islands to eight days so that there are fewer short tours which cause more pollution. We are also introducing a mandatory environmental course for all Galapagos tourism workers." The Galapagos Islands, located 650 miles off Ecuador's Pacific coast, were placed on the UNESCO danger list last April, with illegal fishing, rising tourism and uncontrolled immigration listed as key threats to the World Heritage Site. FCDA January Meeting Raffle Winners After a exciting video presentation by Captain Bill Palmer on Diving the S-5: Hell in 30 Fathoms the club held its monthly raffle to support our DAN Diamond sponsorship. The winners were: Mares Dive Hats donated by Tom Provencal - Bob Sawczuk and George Danielczuk; New England Dive Shirt - donated by New England Dive Center - Kristen Havelka, Underwater Mask Case Carrier donated by New England Dive Center - Jim Anderson; Utility Dive Cord donated by New England Dive Center - Kate Rickard; Mares Dive Mask donated by Tom Provencal - Mike Cassetta; Chrome SCUBA Emblem donated by New England Dive Center - Jason Giannaras and an Oceanic Dive Mask with Flashing Light donated by Orbit Marine Dive Center - Scott Dellaperuta. Thanks to New England Dive Center, Orbit Marine Dive Center and Tom Provencal for donating raffle prizes for our DAN raffle. Remember, you can't win if you don't buy tickets and you can't buy tickets if you don't get up and come out to FCDA events and meetings!

5 Page 5 DAN Offers New DVD Many divers may not know that someone can get decompression illness even while following safe diving rules. To better educate divers, DAN has created a new DVD about DCI and what to do if you suspect a diver has it. Joel Dovenbarger, Vice President of DAN Medical Services, said the best way for all divers to learn comes from the experiences of other divers. This new DVD from DAN will help divers recognize the signs and symptoms of a variety of dive-related issues and be better prepared to respond appropriately, Dovenbarger said. Dive centers or dive clubs can request the free DVD from DAN. It features a 40-minute presentation by Marty McCafferty, DAN Medical Informational Specialist. Use the DVD as part of your dive training programs, at your next dive club meeting or at dive gatherings. The DVD emphasizes that the symptoms of DCI are similar to other medical conditions, such as a heart attack or upset stomach, so only a physician is qualified to make a diagnosis. The diver has three responsibilities: to recognize the signs and symptoms; to provide standard care within their levels of training; and to help transfer the injured diver to a higher level of care. Secretary s Note: Any interest in making this presentation the center piece of a FCDA meeting? New England's Tech Diving Center! New England Dive Center 476 North Colony Street Wallingford, CT The region's foremost source for scuba and technical diving gear, training and everything for the recreational or serious tech diver. FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association Fax Dealer for OMS, UWATEC, Oceanic, Mares, Dacor, Cressi-Sub, P o s e i d o n, Scubapro, Bare, O'Neill and Henderson. Draeger Atlantis I Rebreather training, certification and rental. New England Dive Center offers complete training for all levels of diving, from Open Water through the most advanced technical courses. Our instruction provides certification through SSI, PDIC, TDI and IANTD. Visit us on the Web:

6 Page 6 Salvor forced to reveal treasure source US salvage company Odyssey Marine has been ordered to give the position of a wreck from which it recovered large amounts of gold and silver last year. Under the order, issued by a federal judge in Tampa, Florida, Odyssey has until the end of January to inform the Spanish Government of the site from which it raised a reported half million coins, weighing some 17 tonnes - possibly the world's largest-ever haul. Odyssey landed the treasure in Gibraltar last May, and flew it from there to its Florida base. Spain, suspecting the wreck might lie in its territorial waters, maintained it could have rights to the haul, or a good proportion of it. Filing a claim in Tampa, Spain maintained that Odyssey must prove its statement that the wreck lies in "international waters in the Atlantic Ocean". Now, the US court has backed that assertion. FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. Orbit Marine Sports Center, Inc 3273 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT (203) 333-DIVE (800) 395-DIVE Capt. Noel s Diventures!! The Spirit of the Good Life! Barbados February Maldives Feb 28-March 10! Two spots left! Bikini Atoll May 12-22, '08 NEW DATE!! "Dive The Nuclear Wrecks" Of the Pacific! 3 spots left! St. Lucia April 14-18, '08 Public School Spring Break Turks & Caicos Aug 28-Sept 2..info soon! North Carolina Aug info soon! PLEASE BUY LOCAL! Mail order/internet sales hurt all local retailers. We re the ones who fill your tanks, service your gear, train you to dive, take you out diving and REALLY CARE ABOUT YOU! SUPPORT US SO WE CAN SUPPORT YOU! Orbit Marine is 35 Years Old! Orbit Scuba Courses listing Open Water Advanced Open Water Rescue Diver Underwater Photography Wreck Diver Divemaster Assistant Instructor Instructor, Nitrox Advanced Nitrox Cylinder Inspector DAN O2 Provider Deep Diver Night diver Underwater Navigation Visit Orbit Marine on the Web -

7 SCAPA FLOW IN 3D Page 7 methods. This led to highresolution sonar surveys on environmentally hazardous wrecks that were leaking oil or contained dangerous munitions. Recent work has been for the Marine & quality of the imagery could be of interest to recreational divers. When the Royal Oak survey was commissioned and planned in the early summer of 2006, we decided to undertake additional work in OVER THE PAST DECADE the demands of the oil and gas industries, and the need for better information about what might lie in the way of marine developments such as wind-farms, have led to significant advances in the technology used to map the seabed. Sport divers are naturally very interested in the seabed and what may be lying on it, but have yet to benefit from the use of offshore technology in the same way as they have from recent advances in diving equipment. This situation is now changing. Our St Andrews and Dundee Universities (ADUS) team has been using specially developed WreckSight visualisation techniques and software to provide recreational divers with very detailed still and threedimensional moving images of popular wreck sites around the UK, presented in formats specifically geared for your use. ADUS was set up to research improvements in sonar surveying Coastguard Agency (MCA) on the Richard Montgomery off Sheerness, and for the Ministry of Defence's Marine & Salvage Operations (MSO) team on the Royal Oak (shown above) in Scapa Bay. Oil has been escaping from the Oak since the day the British battleship was torpedoed in Over the past few years, the MSO team has extracted hundreds of tons of oil from the many fuel tanks in the hull by drilling and "hot tapping". The highly detailed images of the wreck produced by ADUS have helped the salvage team interpret the current layout of the wreck and better understand the condition of the hull. We three members of the ADUS team have strong sport-diving roots, and soon realised that the Scapa Flow and survey the wrecks of the German High Seas Fleet. Images from all seven German wrecks, as well as the turrets from the Bayern, are shown here in DIVER for the first time. We plan to gather data on other popular dive sites around the UK in the near future, starting with wrecks in the Sound of Mull and following up with others along England's south coast. HOW DOES IT WORK? The images shown here have all been produced using a multibeam sonar system. This collects accurate depth measurements beneath the survey boat using the same principle as a dive boat's echosounder, but much more accurately, and with much wider coverage of the seabed.

8 Next FCDA Meeting Friday - February 29, :00 PM Coast Guard Cottage - South Benson Marina - Fairfield, CT "Cruising the Coast" a presentation by Pete Nawrocky Page 8 Dive Rite's National Field Manager Pete Nawrocky spends a lot of time on the road driving to Tech Tours, Dive Shops, trade shows and other venues. During his time on the road he also gets to spend a lot of time in the water. This presentation covers 5 different areas each with its own set of conditions and marine life. Fairfield County Diving Association P.O. Box 3005 Fairfield, CT Address Service Requested