M 2 The Presidents Corner

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1 FAIRFIELD COUNTY DIVING ASSOCIATION Febuary 2010 Volume 17 Issue 2 Inside this Issue M 2 The Presidents Corner Presidents Corner Events of Interest page 1 page 2 As winter continues (damm groundhog), the good news is dive season is almost here. If you haven t had your gear serviced yet, this is a good time of year to visit your friendly neighborhood dive shop. Membership renewals are due. If you still get a paper newsletter, we strongly recommend a change to an electronic membership. It easy and convenient and you print as many copies as you would like. FCDA Donors I page 2 Early Season Local Diving Charters page 3 FCDA Donors II page 3 Sensational Seas Two page 4 FCDA Donors III page 4 The FCDA January meeting was well attended. In a shocking development, the current officers were all re-elected to their current posts. I guess the Tea Party has no problem with the way we run things. Our guest speaker was Capt Drew Bisset, USN Ret. He presented an interesting video about the training regimen for Navy Seals. My muscles got sore just watching it. Glen Reem has arranged for Butch Hendrick of Lifeguard Systems to join us at our February meeting. He will be discussing what sport divers can learn from safety divers. This year we hope to add to our newsletter. If you have taken a recent trip and would like to write a brief review, let us know. Stay warm, be safe and hang loose Mike FCDA Member Ads page 5 Gloves or No Gloves? page 6 Raffle Winners page 7 Lawsuit: Key West owes $1 million page 7 Next FCDA Meeting page 8

2 Page 2 Events of Interest to FCDA Members BOSTON SCUBA SHOW Holiday Inn & Resort Marlboro, Ma Feb. 27th March 6 - Boston Sea Rovers Evening Film Festival New England Aquarium s Simons IMAX Theater. For more information index.html FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. New England's Tech Diving Center! Beneath the Sea Meadowlands Exposition Center March 26-28, 2010 DAN Diving Fatalities Workshop Durham, N.C April 8-10 DUI Demo Days Dutch Springs Bethlehem, PA May New England Dive Center 476 North Colony Street Wallingford, CT 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 From the Secretary s Desk Thinking about some early season local diving? As many of you know, I crew on the Atlantis running out of New London, CT. So, if you want to get in some early season charters and would like to see a familiar face on the boat here is my crew schedule for April and May: April 2 L8 / Black Point April 18 L8 / Black Point April 25 Idean / Grecian April 28 Idean / Grecian May 2 Grecian May 5 U-853 May 19 Bass ( one dive only May 26 L8 / Black Point FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. Also, I'm a diver (fun dive for me) on: May 16 Heroine / Mary Arnold (nudibranch photo dive I hope May 29 Bass (one dive only

4 Page 4 New World Publications Announces Sensational Seas Two DVD Trailer New World Publications is pleased to announce the premiere of the Sensational Seas Two trailer as a free DiveFilm itunes podcast. FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. The two-minute preview showcases some of the fun-filled underwater images from the Sensational Seas Two DVD production. The trailer is also available for viewing by visiting Sensational Seas Two is a grand tour of watery realms as far-flung as Antarctica, Australia, the Andaman Sea and Georgia Aquarium. Expect the unexpected, come face-to-face with the gentlest of giants, rolling octopus, spawning frogfish, a snorkeling elephant, and tiny plankton that epitomize the grandeur of nature s artistic flair. Makes you want to go diving! exclaims Ned DeLoach, contributor and editor. Sensational Seas Two will premiere highlights at Beneath the Sea International Film Festival on Saturday night March 27th. A seminar on Sunday March 28th will feature additional clips from the production. The DVD will be available for purchase on April 1, 2010 in ecofriendly packaging, recycled paper stock and soy-ink printing. Funding for Sensational Seas Two is provided by the Carrow Foundation. 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 Page 5 Shipwreck off of Bell Island Newfoundland. See more at George s FCDA presentation in May 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.

6 Gloves or No Gloves? On a recent group trip to Key West, I managed to cut my fingers clawing down the mooring line to the recently scuttled "Vandenberg." The current was so strong, it took just about all I had to finally reach the wreck with several of my divers in tow. I never wear gloves in the tropics as I'm trying to set an example for my students and travelers. That night at dinner, several other divers also had "paper" cuts on the tips of their fingers and we discussed infections and how we should all keep a watch on the injuries and apply an antiseptic to the wound. In all my 47 years of diving, I have never experienced any major marine injury until now. Over a month's time, I noticed my finger beginning to swell. I left again on another trip, this time the Red Sea, with hopes that the salt water and sun would cure my wound. The swelling only increased and my finger tip showed signs of a "pus" pocket forming. I tried soaking the affected finger in Epson salts and warm water to no avail. Three weeks later, I'm off again, this time to Cozumel. My swollen finger seemed to have stabilized but was not getting any better. Upon my return from Cozumel, I finally checked in with my local Veterans Administration hospital (VA) where they had me have an x-ray and blood test. With everything showing normal, I was put on several antibiotics and told to report back in a month. Within two weeks, I noticed the infection worsening. Went back to the VA and not only did I have another x-ray and blood test, but they also ordered an MRI. The MRI showed fluid not only in my finger but spreading to my palm. I was immediately scheduled for surgery the following week! The surgery consisted of opening up my finger down to the base of my palm to drain infection fluid and to take a sample for culture. I was now put on three different antibiotics, about a two month supply! After leaving the VA with a hard cast from my right elbow down to my fingertips, I returned a week later for a follow-up. The hard cast was removed and a smaller splint was put in it's place. I was finally able to see the extent of the incision with all the stitches! At the follow-up, I asked if anything showed up on the culture. The only thing they knew was that there was a causing bacteria, but it was so slow growing, they need more time to culture it. I returned a week and a half later for another follow-up and to have the stitches removed. At that time, they finally identified the guilty bacteria. "Mycobacterium Marinum" is what's causing the problem. Common with commercial fisherman and commercial aquarium workers, a cut from shell fish or fin fish can cause the infection I have. It's now been almost 4 months Page 6 since this whole episode began. I'm happy to report that my finger is almost back to normal size. I have no open wounds and all I have to work on is building my grip after the extensive surgery. The big question is, should we really deny divers the right to wear gloves? What I experienced I would not wish on anyone. True, it's rare, but it can and does happen. I just came back from Bonaire with another group and I had to show a doctor's note to be able to wear gloves! Ironically, one of my divers cut her fingers on the mooring line down to the "Hilma Hooker." Needless to say, she is very concerned about what might happen. If divers are taught better buoyancy control techniques and taught that if they have to stabilize themselves while taking pictures, to pick a spot to place one finger on dead coral or sand, I do not think the coral environment will suffer any where near the suffering I have had to endure. At least let us wear gloves going up and down ascent/decent lines and be allowed to wear gloves while diving wrecks. Capt. Noel Voroba/Pres. Orbit Marine

7 Page 7 January Meeting Raffle Winners After a presentation by Captain Drew Bisset USNRET on Navy Seals the club held its monthly raffle at the January meeting to support our DAN sponsorship. The winners were: Impulse Light donated by New England Dive Center - Laura Provencal; Carabiner donated by Divers Alert Network - Laura Provencal; Sea Drops Marker donated by New England Dive Center - Mel Rich, Jr BC Life donated by New England Dive Center - Mel Rich, Jr; Wet Suit Shampoo donated by New England Dive Center - Charlie Blanchette; Underwater Slate donated by New England Dive Center - Andy Cummings; Div Snorkel donated by New England Dive Center - Jeff Susa Dry Bag donated by Rex Dive Center - Jeff Susa; New England Dive Center Tee Shirt donated by New England Dive Center - Paul Gacek; Fin Bag donated by Orbit Marine Dive Center - Laura Cummings. Thanks to New England Dive Center, Orbit Marine Dive Center, Rex Dive Center and Divers Alert Network 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! Lawsuit: Key West owes $1 million for 'Vandenberg' cleaning McCLATCHY-TRIBUNE The fish, and the scuba divers, have been enjoying the sunken USS Hoyt S. Vandenberg. The city of Key West also has benefited from the economic stimulus of the tourist attraction, sunk seven miles off the city nearly a year ago. The Norfolk, Va., Colonna's Shipyard, however, has not been reaping any of the benefits, the company says in a new lawsuit. Colonna's is suing Key West for more than $1 million it says it's owed for cleaning up the 520-foot Vandenberg, a former military transport ship, for scuttling as an artificial reef. Key West, the state of Florida and the Keys tourism industry spent nearly 10 years raising money for obtaining, cleaning, towing and, finally, sinking the Vandenberg. The final cost was more than $8 million. Colonna's got the contract to clean the ship, but a legal dispute over failed payments to the shipyard and its subcontractors waged for a year in Norfolk's federal court. The Vandenberg, once a James River Reserve Fleet ship, was auctioned off on the steps of the U.S. District Courthouse in Norfolk to pay those bills. Colonna's now says the auction did not cover its expenses and Key West has reneged on a deal to settle up. Colonna's, located on the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, spent about a year scrubbing the Vandenberg clean of asbestos, lead paint and other toxic wastes. When it was finished, the shipyard said it was still owed $1.6 million. Colonna's received $677,000 from the auction, with subcontractors splitting the rest. Now, it has turned to Key West to pony up the other $1 million. Meanwhile, since the Vandenberg was sunk in May, Key West has been enjoying millions in economic benefits, Colonna's says in the suit. The Vandenberg, the largest ship sunk as an artificial reef off the Keys, served as a troop transport in World War II. Later it was converted to track missile tests and followed the Mercury and Gemini space liftoffs.

8 Page 8 Next FCDA Meeting Friday - February 26, :00 PM Coast Guard Cottage - South Benson Marina - Fairfield, CT What sport divers can learn from public safety divers to become safer, stronger divers Butch Hendrick Team Lifeguard Systems As President & Founder of Lifeguard Systems, Butch has been teaching, developing rescue procedures and performing surface and subsurface water rescues for over 30 years in 15 countries. He develop many of the procedures used and taught today such as the rescue do-si-do and in-water mouth to mouth for scuba accidents. In the 1970's Butch established the training program, and conducted the dive training for FDNY Rescue Companies dive teams, including, in 1991, the FDNY diver instructor training course. He has trained other noted teams such as FDNY Rescue Companies, U.S. Parks Dept., Washington DC FAA, South African Paramedics Dive Team, and hundreds of other fire, police, EMS, and military teams. Fairfield County Diving Association P.O. Box 3005 Fairfield, CT Address Service Requested DON T FORGET TO PAY YOUR 2010 DUES!! GO GREEN - SIGN UP FOR THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER!!