M 2 The Presidents Corner

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1 FAIRFIELD COUNTY DIVING ASSOCIATION October 2008 Volume 15 Issue 10 Inside this Issue M 2 The Presidents Corner Presidents Corner Events of Interest page 1 page 2 Raffle Winners page 2 FCDA Donors I page 3 Divers reach steamship that sank off Mass. in 1898 page 3 FCDA Donors II page 4 Navy Identifies Lost WWII Submarine Page 5 Annual FCDA Underwater Pumpkin Carving/Beach Cleanup page 5 FCDA Member Ads page 7 Next FCDA Meeting page 8 The country is engaged in an historical presidential election, the economy is collapsing and energy costs are sky rocketing. As co- Presidents of FCDA there s not much Matt and I can do to fix these problems, so let s talk diving. In mid September was the annual Cape Ann trip. Turnout was excellent with approximately 30 folks staying in the campground. Though temperatures were a bit chilly at night, the weather was brilliant the whole week end. Friday we enjoyed a night dive at Stage Fort Park. The water temperature was slightly warmer than the evening air and as always sea life was abundant. Saturday we enjoyed a late morning dive at Folly Cove. This is definitely one of the best shore dives in New England and I highly recommend it, if you don t mind temperate waters. Saturday night was the lobster fest and bonfire. Dave, Mel and Kels did a great job cooking up the bugs and a good time was had by most, if not all, in attendance. Our September meeting was well attended with several new faces in attendance, which is always a welcome sight. Our scheduled speaker had to reschedule to November, so Glenn filled in with an inspirational film about the Moray Wheels. For those who could not attend, the Moray Wheels was a group of handicapped divers from Boston who just wanted to dive. During the meeting folks also shared descriptions of recent dive trips including the St Lawrence Seaway, Lake George, the Liberty ships off Virginia and the Caymans amongst others. As always if anyone has an interesting dive experience they would like to present please let Matt and me know. Paul Gacek will share video from a recent trip to Belize att our October meeting. Additionally we have the upcoming underwater pumpkin carving and don t forget the Christmas party in December. That s it for now. Just a reminder; no matter who you support, do not forget to vote this November. My belief is always if you don t vote, you don t have the right to complain about the guy in office. Happy Halloween.Mike

2 Page 2 Events of Interest to FCDA Members October 26, Underwater Pumpkin Carving/Beach Cleanup. 10:00 AM - Registration, 11:00 AM - Dive/Beach Cleanup, 12:00 Noon - Cookout. November 8, 2008 Wreck 2008 The 15th annual "Wrecks" symposium November 15, 2008 The Explorers Club will host its fourth annual Sea Stories, a day focused on exploration, scuba diving, and marine life at its headquarters in Manhattan. Reservations required: reservations@explorers.org December 6, :00 PM - Annual FCDA Holiday Party. Save the date! FCDA September Meeting Raffle After a insprational presentation by Glenn on the Moray Wheels the club held its monthly raffle to support our DAN Diamond sponsorship. Charile took home a tank banger donated by Orbit Marine; Mel looked great in the sunglasses donated by New England Dive Center; Matt has a certificate for two Nitrox fills from Rex Dive Center; Jeff has a new T-shirt from New Engkland Dive Center; George won the jump reel donated by Orbit Marine; Tom won the sports bad donated by New England Dive Center; Kelsey won the LED key ring donated by Orbit and the dry bag donated by New England Dive Center. 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! P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT 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 Divers reach steamship that sank off Mass. in 1898 Yahoo News news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ / ap_on_re_us/ship_remains Five Massachusetts men became the first divers to reach the wreck of a 19th-century steamship that sank in one of the most destructive storms in New England history, and say they saw an array of artifacts like dishes and mugs but no human remains. The Portland, known as the "Titanic of New England," sank off the Massachusetts coast Nov. 26, 1898, after it sailed from Boston, taking more than 190 people with it. David Faye, one of the divers, said wreckage of the Portland was littered with artifacts like plates, dishes and mugs, wash basins and toilets and even a few medicine bottles etched with the name of an apothecary in Maine. "I immediately thought of these people how horrible it must've been," said Faye, a lawyer in Cambridge, Mass. "They had no communication with shore. They had no idea where they were. The storm was pushing them out to sea." An image from team leader Bob Foster's camera depicts a starfish clinging to a mug. Another shows toppled stacks of sandy plates and dishes. Reaching the ship tested the divers' limits and their equipment because the wreckage rests so far below the surface. Their dives 460 feet below ocean surface 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 were so deep that some of the underwater lights imploded with a boom, Faye said. The divers could only spend 10 to 15 minutes exploring the wreckage site before returning to the surface. Because the location is kept secret, the divers had to independently verify the location. They had no sponsors; they paid out of pocket for their dives. The diving equipment cost between $10,000 and $50,000 per person, Faye said. 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 "You have to give the wreck its respect," Faye said. "It's deep and it's dangerous, and you have to be at the top of your game." Bodies and wreckage began to wash up on the shores of Cape Cod shortly after the storm, which became known as The Portland Gale. More information on this wreck can be found at: wrecks/portland.html Capt. Noel s Diventures!! The Spirit of the Good Life! Palau & Yap..Oct 20 - Nov 2!! Palau Aggressor & Manta Ray Bay! Cozumel Dec 4 8 inclusive package! Barbados Jan 8 12, 2009 ARUBA..Feb 14-17, 2009! Winter School break Dubai & Maldives..March 11-22, 2009! Info Soon! Bonaire April, Info soon! Little Cayman..May, 2009! 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 -

5 New FCDA Members Welcome aboard to the following individuals who have recently become a new members of the Fairfield County Diving Association: Bradley Tatro 21 Buck Hill Rd Madison, CT H: W: Bradt255@yahoo.com PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Oct. 3) - The Navy has confirmed the wreckage of a sunken vessel found last year off the Aleutians Islands is that of the USS Grunion, which disappeared during World War II. Underwater video footage and pictures captured by an expedition hired by sons of the commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Mannert L. Abele, allowed the Navy Page 5 to confirm the discovery, Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny said Thursday in a news release. McAneny said the Navy was very grateful to the Abele family. "We hope this announcement will help to give closure to the families of the 70 crewmen of Grunion," he said. Chip Vitone 290 Meadowbrook Rd Stratford, CT H: W: GPU59@aol.com Navy Identifies Lost WWII Submarine (Associated Press) The Grunion was last heard from July 30, The submarine reported heavy anti-submarine activity at the entrance to Kiska, and that it had 10 torpedoes remaining forward. On the same day, the Grunion was directed to return to Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base. The submarine was reported lost Aug. 16, Japanese anti-submarine attack data recorded no attack in the Aleutian area at the time of the Grunion's disappearance, so the submarine's fate remained an unsolved mystery for more than 60 years, the Navy said.

6 Page 6 Annual FCDA Holiday Party Saturday, December 6, :00PM Bravo Restaurant 1418 Post Road Fairfield, CT Choice of: Chicken Francese, Tilapia Mediterranean (Sautéed with Tomato, Olives and Fresh Basil), Sliced Roast Beef Au Jus Salad, Pasta, Vegetable, Potato/Rice, Bread/Butter and Coffee/Tea; Cash Bar Dive Raffle $5 Grab Bag All this for only $33.00 per person! Advance reservations required!! Good Company Music I want to have a great time at the 2008 Annual FCDA Holiday Party! Name(s) Chicken Francese Tilapia Mediterranean Sliced Roast Beef Au $33.00 $33.00 $33.00 = TOTAL Make your check payable to FCDA and mail to:

7 Page 7 Annual FCDA Underwater Pumpkin Carving/Beach Cleanup Come one - come all! Its the Annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest and Beach Cleanup on Sunday, October 26, 2008 at the Coast Guard Cottage at South Benson Marina. If diving in Long Island Sound is not your forte, come and help us clean up the beach. If ecology is not your forte, come and have some hot dogs, hamburgers and Mel s Chili. We have something for everyone! Registration and the beach cleanup begin at 10:00 AM. Divers should bring an intact pumpkin, their C Cards and of course some dive gear (no doubles necessary - it s only ten feet deep!) At 11:00 AM, divers will have one hour to carve their pumpkins and non-divers will have another hour to help clean up the local beach area. Helpful hints for divers: uncarved pumpkins float; carved pumpkins float, divers in very shallow water float - plan ahead and bring some extra lead! Prizes will be awarded in a v a - riety of categories and there will be a raffle. FCDA Member Ads At 12:00 Noon the cookout begins. Contributions of dishes including salads and desserts to supplement our standard cookout fare of hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers are welcome - please coordinate your donations with George Sharrard - georges00z@aol.com. Registration fees for FCDA members are as follows: Divers - $8.00, Non-divers - $5.00. Fees for nonmembers are: Divers - $10.00, non-divers - $7.00. Children under the age of five are $3.00. Come on down and help ring out the summer! See you the 26th! 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 Dive Belize a video presentation by Paul Gacek The video was shot during a recent trip to Belize - the world's second largest barrier reef - aboard the Belize Aggressor III. See the highlights of Lighthouse Reef and the famous Blue Hole. Friday - October 24, :00 PM Coast Guard Cottage - South Benson Marina - Fairfield, CT Fairfield County Diving Association P.O. Box 3005 Fairfield, CT Address Service Requested