M 2 The Presidents Corner

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1 FAIRFIELD COUNTY DIVING ASSOCIATION May 2009 Volume 16 Issue 5 Inside this Issue M 2 The Presidents Corner Presidents Corner Events of Interest page 1 page 2 Raffle Winners page 2 Vandenberg page 2 New Members page 3 FCDA Donors I page 3 FCDA Donors II page 4 Ideas For Meetings page 4 FCDA Donors III page 5 World's Largest Leatherback Turtle Population Found page 6 Happy Spring everyone!!!! The FCDA had its Annual Underwater Easter Egg Hunt and Beach Clean-Up a couple of weeks ago. It felt more like summer that day and the beach was packed with people getting some rays and even going on the water. I had some air left in my tank from a dive the day before at Fort Wetherill with Mel and Jim and decided to burn it off. I didn t find any Easter eggs but there were hundreds of hermit crabs running around. For our April meeting we had a presentation from the Trumbull Police Departments Dive Team. The turn-out was great and it was standing room only. I particularly liked the coverage of them jumping out of a helicopter in full SCUBA gear. It gave a whole different perspective to the giant stride. I know that this is a tough time of the year to get out and dive with kids sports and other family commitments. If anyone would like to get out and do some diving locally or take some extended trips let us know and we can bring it up at the meetings. I know when I looked at my schedule the next time I can get out is at the end of May; we are possibly planning a dive and cookout to Fort Wetherill again for May 23. Let me know if you would like to go and we can coordinate meeting in the parking lot. Remember that Memorial Day is late this year - our meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 29th. We will have author David Rosenthal talk about his recent book on diving the wrecks and shores of Long Island. For anyone who has his book he can sign them at the meeting if you wish. Clambake page 7 FCDA Member Ads page 7 Next FCDA Meeting page 8

2 Page 2 Events of Interest to FCDA Members June 13 Wreck Charter with Bill Palmer July 25 August 22 July September Wreck Charter with Bill Palmer Wreck Charter with Bill Palmer Cape Ann weekend Cape Ann weekend For more information on the wreck charters and/or the Cape Ann weekends please contact: Mel Rich at / divermel@optonline.net. Raffle Winners from the April Meeting Greg s number was pulled for the Bagball donated by New England Dive Center the Diver s Wallet donated by Orbit Marine the Odor Eliminator and Mesh Bag donated by Orbit Marine and wet suit Hood donated by New England Dive Center. Donna won the Mares Mask Bag donated by Rex Dive Center Lynne s number came up for the Tank Light donated by Rex Dive Center the Wet Suit Shampoo donated by Orbit Marine and a weight belt donated by Orbit Marine. Jeff won the Lobster Glove donated by New England Dive Center. Conner started out winning the Tank Key Chain donated by New England Dive Center moved on to the BC Cleaner donated by Orbit Marine DAN First-Aid book donated by Rex Marine Remember, to win you have to be at the meeting. Vandenberg sink date set for May 27 by LAMAR CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network industry/i html KEY WEST, Florida (15 May 2009) Project organizers announced May 27 would be the earliest date for sinking the 530- ft Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a retired missile-tracking ship. Key West City Manager, Jim Scholl, said the target date could change depending on weather and other factors. "There are factors that could delay the scuttling, including weather and other unforeseen circumstances," Scholl said. Tugboats towed the Vandenberg into Key West on April 22 and are standing by to tow the ship to a site located about seven miles south of Key West. If all goes according to plan, the ship will settle upright on the sea bottom at a depth of 43 meters (140 feet). Authorities told CDNN more than two thirds of the project cost of $8.6 million was spent on removing asbestos and other contaminants from the vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard said only Continued on page 3 P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT Internet mail: fcda@aol.com Presidents Vice-President Secretary Treasurer 2009 Board Matt Rownin & Mike Cassetta Mark Shannon George Sharrard Paul J. Gacek

3 Page 3 New FCDA Members Welcome aboard to the following individuals who have recently become new members of the Fairfield County Diving Association: Lynne Becker 726 Beach Rd Fairfield, CT H: W: Lynne10svet@snet.net Stephen F Carolan 103 A Halstead Ave Greenwich, CT H: W: carolansteve@aol.com David Kenny 77 Sherwood Pl Greenwich, CT H: W: sherwood77b@gmail.com Continued from page 2 authorized vessels and aircraft will be permitted within a one-mile perimeter to be enforced for the sinking. After the Vandenberg is scuttled and officials confirm that it has settled properly on the bottom, divers working for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will install mooring buoys. After the buoys are installed, the Vandenberg will be officially open for business as Florida's newest Continued on page 4 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:

4 Page 4 Continued from page 3 scuba diving attraction Also from South Florida Adventures /05/07/the-vandenberg-to-besunk-as-artificial-reef-at-end-ofmay/ FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. The retired missile-tracking ship Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg is des- Continued on page 5 Do You Have An Idea For A Meeting Topic/ Guest Speaker? Is there something you would like to see a presentation on? Maybe you would like to do a presentation on one of your dive trips? We are always looking for ideas. We are planning at least one Members Present nights over the winter. This is an evening of short (5 10 minute) presentations put together by our members.

5 Page 5 Continued from page 4 tined to become the next artificial reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary just south of Key West, according to the Florida Keys Newsroom. FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. Workers are preparing to sink the ship on May 27. The 523-foot Vandenberg is to one of the three largest ships in the world to be intentionally sunk as an artificial reef, the Florida Keys Newsroom said in a statement. The ship was at first used to transport troops and was later converted to defending the United States against missile attacks. It also tracked Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and even early Space Shuttle launches. The Vandenberg also played a role as a Russian science ship in the 1999 motion picture Virus, which starred Jamie Lee Curtis, William Baldwin and Donald Sutherland. Where Is George Diving? Want to get wet and see some cool wrecks? Join me on: Friday May 29th Pinnacles/Grecian Wednesday June 3rd U-853 Sunday June 6th Oregon Saturday June 13th U-853 Weekend Wreck Charters Rex Dive Center will be offering various Charters for the 2009 Dive Season. A NEW "Shallow to Deep Wreck Program" that will allow you to progress from the Shallower Inshore Wrecks to the Deeper and more Advanced Offshore Wrecks while maintaining the highest level of Safety and having Fun! Get your materials and get Started Today! Call for Upcoming Dates and Schedules!

6 World's Largest Leatherback Turtle Population Found ScienceDaily (May 18, 2009) rleases/2009/05/ ht m An international team of scientists has identified a nesting population of leatherback sea turtles in Gabon, West Africa as the world's largest. The research, published in the May issue of Biological Conservation, involved country-wide land and aerial surveys that estimated a population of between 15,730 and 41,373 female turtles using the nesting beaches. The study highlights the importance of conservation work to manage key sites and protected areas in Gabon. Leatherbacks are of profound conservation concern around the world after populations in the Indo-Pacific crashed by more than 90 percent in the 1980s and 1990s. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists leatherback turtles as critically endangered globally, but detailed population assessments in much of the Atlantic, especially Africa, are lacking. The research was led by the University of Exeter working in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) which spearheads the Gabon Sea Turtle Partnership, a network of organisations concerned with the protection of marine turtles in Gabon. During three nesting seasons between 2002 and 2007, the team's members carried out the most comprehensive survey of marine turtles ever conducted in Gabon. This involved aerial surveys along Gabon's 600 km (372 mile) coast, using video to capture footage for evaluation, and detailed ground-based monitoring. By covering the entire coastline, they were not only able to estimate the number of nests and nesting females, but also to identify the key sites for leatherback nesting, data which are crucial to developing conservation management plans for the species. Leatherbacks were first described nesting in Gabon in Lead author on the paper, Dr Matthew Witt of the University of Exeter, said: "We knew that Gabon was an important nesting site for leatherback turtles but until now had little idea of the size of the population or its global ranking. We are now focusing our efforts on working with local agencies to coordinate conservation efforts to ensure this population is protected against the threats from illegal fisheries, nest poaching, pollution and habitat disturbance, and climate change." The study also revealed that around 79 percent of the nesting occurs within National Parks and other protected areas. This gives added hope that Gabon can continue to be one of the world's most important countries for these magnificent creatures. Dr Angela Formia of the Wildlife Conservation Society, a co-author of the paper, said: "These findings show the critical importance Page 6 of protected areas to maintain populations of sea turtles. Gabon should be commended for creating a network of National Parks in 2002 that have provided a sanctuary for this endangered species as well as other rare wildlife." This study was carried out by the University of Exeter, Wildlife Conservation Society, University of Florence, IUCN-France, PROTO- MAC (Gabon), CNDIO-Gabon, IBONGA-ACPE (Gabon), Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux (Gabon), Gabon Environnment, Aventures Sans Frontières (Gabon) and WWF-Gabon. About leatherback turtles The leatherback is the largest sea turtle, reaching up to nearly two metres (6.5 feet) in length and 540kg (1190 pounds) in weight. Unlike other sea turtles, the leatherback does not have a hard shell. Its shell is made-up of a mosaic of small bones covered by firm, rubbery skin with seven longitudinal ridges. Leatherbacks are the most widely spread marine turtles, and are found in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, particularly in tropical regions. Leatherbacks are the deepest diving of all sea turtles. The deepest recorded dive is 1.2 kilometres (3/4 mile), which is slightly more than the deepest known dive of a sperm whale. As with other reptiles, the sex of leatherbacks is determined by the temperature of eggs during incubation. With leatherbacks, temperatures above 29 degrees centigrade (84 degrees Fahrenheit) will result in female hatchlings.

7 Page 7 Annual Kickoff the Season Clambake Saturday, June 6, :00 pm Coast Guard Cottage South Benson Marina, Fairfield, CT catered by Swanson s Fish Market Shrimp Steamers Lobster Red Potato Corn on the cob Cole slaw Dinner Roll Watermelon Beer Wine Soda (Also available by special order - Chicken, Swordfish or Steak - prepayment required!) Early Bird Special by Mail - Pay by May 30th (Postmark on envelope) - $36.00 each After May 30th - George georges00z@aol.com for reservations - $41.00 each Name(s) No. x $ = $ Special Order(s): 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.

8 Page 8 Next FCDA Meeting Friday - May 29, :00 PM Coast Guard Cottage - South Benson Marina - Fairfield, CT David Rosenthal SCUBA Diving the Wrecks & Shores of Long Island, NY. Native New Yorker, David Rosenthal, has had a long time love of history and the see. Diving since 1999 he rapidly advanced to technical decompression diving and by 2008 he had logged almost 500 local dives. David is also the past president of New York Dive Club the Sea Gypsies and is currently involved in projects cataloging large artifact collections and a survey of the changing state of the USS San Diego shipwreck. Fairfield County Diving Association P.O. Box 3005 Fairfield, CT Address Service Requested