M 2 The Presidents Corner

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1 FAIRFIELD COUNTY DIVING ASSOCIATION August 2010 Volume 17 Issue 8 Inside this Issue M 2 The Presidents Corner Presidents Corner Events of Interest page 1 page 2 FCDA Donors I page 2 FCDA Donors II page 3 50th Anniversary for John Pennekamp State Park page 4 New FCDA Members page 4 FCDA Donors III page 4 Plastics, Chemicals May Weaken Lobsters Health page 5 FCDA Member Ads page 5 July Meeting Raffle Winners page 6 No Lobsters for 5 Years!! Page 6 Raffle Winners page 6 Local Photos page 7 Next FCDA Meeting page 8 I just received notice that I won the Nigerian Lotto. I m stoked, but I don t recall buying a ticket. If I am not at the next meeting, I m off blowing my winnings. Discovery Channel just finished shark week. There was some cool footage of breaching Great Whites. I was always puzzled why shark attack reports are labeled as unprovoked. However, after watching researchers f king with Bull Sharks and being chomped, I realized there actually are provoked attacks. I wish they would show other sharks besides the maneaters. An episode on Whale sharks or Basking sharks would be cool. At Beneath the Sea 2 years ago, there was a very well done documentary on Greenland Sharks that I would love to see on TV. Summer is winding down and I hope everyone has had some opportunities to dive recently. If you have done anything or if interest, or if you have some old footage (photos/videos or other visual stimulus) that you would care to share, let us know. We are planning a FCDA Member s Present Night in September and we need at least 3 brave souls. Unfortunately, I just found out the Nigerian Lotto was a scam. Oh well, I ll have to go back to work and I ll see you all at the August meeting. Dr Hamilton will be our guest so I hope to see you all there. Please remember about our plans for the September Meeting and if you would like to present, we need to know by September 1st. Additionally, it s almost time for Cape Ann. See you all soon. May the viz be good, may your tanks be full and may the current be at your back..modified Irish prayer.mike

2 Page 2 Events of Interest to FCDA Members Cape Ann Weekend September 16-19, 2010 diving, camping, whale watching, shopping, canoeing. For more information divermel@optonline.net or call Mel Rich, Jr at DUI Demo Day Oct. 2-3, 2010 Portland, CT Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park pdf/2010_rally_brownstone.pdf (Talk to George if you are interested in earning your PADI Dry Suit certification at this event) Annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving/Beach Cleanup October 24, :00 AM - Registration; 11:00 AM - Dive; 12:00 Noon - Cookout. Donations of salads and desserts welcome - please coordinate with: georges00z@aol.com. New England's Tech Diving Center! New England Dive Center 476 North Colony Street Wallingford, CT 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. P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT Internet mail: fcda@aol.com Presidents Vice-President Secretary Treasurer 2010 Board Matt Rownin & Mike Cassetta Mark Shannon George Sharrard Paul J. Gacek The region's foremost source for scuba and technical diving gear, training and everything for the recreational or serious tech diver. 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:

3 Page 3 New FCDA Member Welcome aboard to the following individual who has recently become a new member of the Fairfield County Diving Association: Jack Wallace 80 Vernon St Stratford, CT H: W: JSW730@yahoo.com FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association.

4 Page 4 Major Anniversary Event set for John Pennekamp State Park KEY LARGO, Florida Keys -- Plans are underway for a milestone birthday celebration as John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, America's first underwater preserve, turns 50 years old. The historic event is set for Wednesday, Dec. 1, through Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010, offering an ideal occasion for divers, snorkelers and other visitors to discover or rediscover the Key Largo park. FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. The park was dedicated Dec. 10, 1960, capping efforts by the late "Miami Herald" editor John Pennekamp to create the Florida Keys jewel that lies just 90 minutes' drive from Miami. Today, the park named for Pennekamp draws more than one million visitors annually to explore its nature trails and beaches and observe the abundant underwater wildlife that inhabits its 70 nautical miles. The 50th anniversary celebration spotlights the history of the park and its mission of protecting and preserving the natural resources within its boundaries -- particularly a portion of America's only living coral barrier reef. Highlights are to include an underwater birthday celebration at one of the park's most famous offshore attractions, the nine-foot bronze "Christ of the Deep" that rests gracefully in 20 feet of water. Rex Dive Center has expanded it s operations Rex Dive of Norwalk has acquired the Pan Aqua Diving shop in Brookfield, CT. With the addition of the Brookfield store Rex acquires a strong technical dive training capability, including tri-mix and intro to tech and an expanded repair department. Rex Dive is committed to providing the best in equipment sales, classes, local charters and warm water trips. VISIT OUR NEW DANBURY-AREA STORE in BROOKFIELD 30-70% LIQUIDATION/MOVING SALE WHILE WE RE-INVENTORY. 457 Federal Rd; Brookfield near Stew Leonards/Costco

5 Plastics, chemicals may weaken lobsters health By Ed Stannard, Register Metro Editor The New Haven Register - August 10,2010 A disease that weakens and discolors lobsters shells might be indirectly caused by plastics and other chemicals in the water, according to a University of Connecticut professor. Hans Laufer, a professor of molecular and cell biology, will be one of the researchers presenting their findings on diseases affecting sea life today at the Ronald C. Baird Sea Grant Science Symposium at the University of Rhode Island. We think that weakening the shell makes them more susceptible to microbial invasion, Laufer said Monday of the infected lobsters. Lobsters suffered a major die-off in Long Island Sound in 1999, and lobster shell disease may have played a part in devastating the population, Laufer said. The main reason really (for the Sound die-off) is the temperature increases that occurred in the Sound, Laufer said. The lobsters are cold-water animals. However, shell disease may have played a part. If they don t die, they get stressed, which leads to other things, like shell disease, Laufer said. It s a contributing factor. Laufer focused his work on alkylphenols, which are found in plastics, detergents, and antioxidants. These compounds will compete with tyrosine and its derivatives in making up the shell, Laufer said. Tyrosine is an amino acid that makes up the protein in the lobster shell. The chemicals also may be toxic to lobster larvae. The two-day symposium will focus on findings of the federally financed $3 million New England Lobster Research Initiative. Shell disease does not affect the lobsters meat, but it makes them unsightly to serve. It can range from black spots to a totally rotted shell, according to information from the Rhode Island Sea Grant, an administrator of the study. To defend themselves against the parasites, the lobsters molt earlier FCDA Member Ads Page 5 and more often, Laufer said. The weakened lobsters have more trouble carrying eggs to term. The other thing is we found that these compounds... have hormonal activity that affects development, Laufer said, making the lobsters look juvenile. The lobster population in the Sound has been at crisis levels for years. Laufer pointed out that 3.7 million pounds were harvested in In 2004, the total had dropped to 600,000 pounds. A state program was instituted to build up the population by paying lobstermen to toss back females so they can lay more eggs. The lobsters tails are notched and the V- shaped piece is turned in for reimbursement at market rates. This year, the American Lobster Management Board recommended banning lobstering south of Cape Cod for five years. It was rejected after lobstermen protested it would put them out of business. Overfishing was not believed to be a cause of the 1990s die-off. Laufer said he does most of his work at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass. 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.

6 After a excellent presentation by Vin Malkoski on Marine Fisheries Science and Management in New England the club held its regular raffle to support our DAN Diamond sponsorship. The winners were: Sea Gold Antifog and Shark Pen donated by Rex Dive Center - Lynn Becker; Iron Mend donated by Orbit Marine Dive Center - Matt Rownin; Suit Juice donated by Orbit Marine July Meeting Raffle Winners CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MARINE FISHERIES DIVISION Marine/Saltwater Highlights: Dive Center - Jim McAuliffe; Aqua Seal donated by New England Dive Center - Lynn Becker; Waterproof Logbook donated by New England Dive Center - Jim McAulifffe; National Geographic Dive Log donated by Rex Dive Center - Kate Rickard; and a Cressi Sub Mask and Snorkel Set donated by Orbit Marine Dive Center - Paul Gacek. Page 6 Thanks to New England Dive Center, Rex Dive Center and Orbit Marine Dive Center for donating tonight s 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! Lobster Management Presentation - The Marine Fisheries Division recently held two Informational Meetings to update lobstermen on the recent activities of the ASMFC American Lobster Technical Committee and Management Board. Potential management actions for the Southern New England lobster stock, which includes Long Island Sound and all other areas south of Cape Cod, were discussed. Significant management actions, including consideration of a five year ban on lobster harvest in this region, are being considered in light of the latest stock assessment which declared the stock depleted and in need of rebuilding.

7 Page 7 Surface light at 60fsw on the wrech of the Stolt Dilagi. I m holding onto the wreck to get this shot as the surge at 60fsw was moving me around quite a bit. Water temp on the wreck was 48F. I was shooting a Canon Powershot G9 in an Ikelite housing,using a DS-125 SubStrobe. Visibility on this dive was extremely poor. The first 40 feet in the water column was a dense soup of micro organisms and bait fish. On the wreck of the Stolt there was a strong surge. Trying to properly align my strobe and hold my position on the wreck while capturing a diver swimming by proved to be problem. A good portion of my pictures from these dives are wonderful shots of backscatter or no subject. Dove from the charter boat Lockness berthed in Freeport, NY

8 Page 8 Next FCDA Meeting Friday - August 27, :00 PM Coast Guard Cottage - South Benson Marina - Fairfield, CT Physiological Issues with a Modern Tunnel Boring Machine and Their Application to Scuba Diving R.W. Hamilton, Ph.D. President - Hamilton Research, Ltd Vice President - Staff Training - Research & Development at Life Support Technologies In the beginning what scuba divers know as Decompression Sickness was called Caisson s Disease from the bends it caused in tunnel workers. We've come a long way from the Brooklyn Bridge! Digging with a Tunnel Boring Machine, a TBM, exposes only a few workers for relatively short times, with much less backbreaking work and in a much safer environment. Even so, there is work to be done, and it involves some high pressures, sophisticated decompression procedures, and efficient management of a few select breathing gases. Fairfield County Diving Association P.O. Box 3005 Fairfield, CT Address Service Requested