The Presidents Corner by Matt Rownin

Transcription

1 FAIRFIELD COUNTY DIVING ASSOCIATION July 2016 Volume 23 Issue 7 Inside this Issue The Presidents Corner by Matt Rownin page 1 FCDA Donor I page 2 June Meeting DAN Raffle Winners page 3 FCDA Member Ads page 3 Why Do I Get Cramps And Fatigue After Scuba Diving? Is It Decompression Sickness? by James L. Caruso page 4 5 Tips: Getting Your Weight In Check by Travis Marshall page 5 FCDA Donor II page 5 Long Island Sound Marine Life Videos by Dr. Bob Bachand page 6 Deep Vein Thrombosis and Decompression Sickness page 7 Diving Shipwrecks In Michigan's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary by Andy Morrison pages 7, Next FCDA Meeting page 12 The Presidents Corner by Matt Rownin Happy Summer everyone!!! The weather has been warm, sometimes darn hot and summer is in full swing. That means the water is warming and dive season is officially upon us. I hope all of you are enjoying this time of the year and doing some diving either here or around the world. Now is the time to do some local diving, keep your skills up and work the bugs out for any trips you have planned. A small group of us just got back from our annual pilgrimage to Cape Ann, MA this past weekend. The weather gods were not as good to us as in previous years but we managed to get in 4 dives with Cape Ann Divers while ducking in behind islands and in coves to avoid the stiff Easterly winds we had with us all weekend. It was also unseasonably cool and some scattered rain but we pushed through and a good time was had by all (I think). It is always good to get away and relax and dive, the time seems to go by so fast and we already started talking about next year s trip and the dives we planned for this year are on tap for next time we will dive with the Seals and get to the wreck of The Haight, we hope to see more of you all there next time. Don t miss the September trip the weekend of the 16 th and 18 th, some start arriving on Wednesday. Talk to Mel for more details. The FCDA will be getting T- Shirts and Sweatshirts to sell at club meetings. Both will have the FCDA Logo on the front chest and a 2 x3 dive flag on the back up by the tag. Each will be embroidered so they will last forever. The shirts will be a light grey and the sweatshirts will be a 2 tone light great with dark grey accents. Pictures will follow on the web site when available and we may even have some to buy at the next meeting. T-Shirts will sell for $25.00 and Sweatshirts for $ See you all soon..our next meeting is on July 30. Until then safe diving Matt Cape Ann Lobster by Matt Rownin

2 Page 2 FCDA Donor The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. UPCOMING TRIPS Bonaire 2016 Sat, Nov 12, Sat, Nov 19, 2016 Divi Flamingo Truk Lagoon 2016 Sun, Nov 27, Sun, Dec 04, 2016 Truk Odyssey Red Sea (Egypt) 2017 Sat, Nov 25, Sat, Dec 02, 2017 Red Sea Aggressor

3 Page 3 June Meeting DAN Raffle Winners night s raffle prizes for our DAN raffle. Remember, you can't win if you don't buy tickets After an exciting presentation by Captain Noel Voroba on Diving Bali the club held its monthly raffle to support our DAN Sponsorship. Winners were: Floating Sun Glasses donated by New England Dive Center - Michelle Lapin; 10 Air Fill Card donated by New England Dive Center - Lisa Jarosik; 2 Air Fill Card donated by New England Dive Center - Jeff Susa; 10 Gift Card donated by New England Dive Center - Sean Leslie; New England Diving Guide donated by Orbit Marine Dive Center - Lisa Jarosik; $20 GoPro Accessory Gift Card donated by New England Dive Center - John Fanuko and a Go Pro Pole donated by New England Dive Center - John Fanuko. Thanks to New England Dive Center and Orbit Marine Dive Center for donating toand you can't buy tickets if you don't get up and come out to FCDA events and meetings! 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 Why Do I Get Cramps And Fatigue After Scuba Diving? Is It Decompression Sickness? by James L. Caruso P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT Internet mail: fcda@aol.com Presidents 2016 Board Matt Rownin & Mike Cassetta Vice-President Mark Shannon Secretary Treasurer Vacant Paul J. Gacek The best way to prevent muscle cramping is to maintain a well balanced diet and hydrate appropriately before and after diving. Q: I often have serious cramps and fatigue immediately after a dive sometimes so bad that I struggle to get on the boat is this a sign of DCS? Or am I just dehydrated? A: While muscle cramps and fatigue may be symptoms of decompression sickness, they are not the most common symptoms and if you experience these after most dives I would say you are definitely not having recurrent episodes of decompression sickness. Muscle cramps, particularly in the legs, after physical exertion is quite common and is frequently reported by divers. The most common time for muscle cramps to begin is during the swim back to the beach or the boat at the end of the dive. As you suggested, this is most likely an electrolyte problem. Immersion in the water causes changes in blood flow and how the body balances electrolytes. There is a natural tendency to lose sodium through increased urine production and an alteration in electrolyte concentrations. This is driven by the increase in blood flow back to the heart that occurs with immersion. Muscle activity is based on sodium and potassium exchange; any alteration in the serum electrolytes can lead to cramping. Some individuals are more susceptible than others and some individuals may experience more muscle cramping as they get older. The best way to prevent muscle cramping is to maintain a well balanced diet and hydrate appropriately before and after diving. Electrolyte drinks may be more beneficial than water and electrolyte gel tablets used by distance runners can be an alternative for divers who have a problem with muscle cramping. The use of salt tablets fell out of favor decades ago and should be avoided. I suspect the sense of fatigue will also disappear if the muscle cramping issue is resolved. James L. Caruso is a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving as ship s doctor, undersea medical officer and flight surgeon. His experience includes a fellowship in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine at Duke University Medical Center; today he is Denver's chief medical examiner. Reprinted from Scubadiving.com - May 14, 2016

5 Page 5 FCDA Donor 5 Tips: Getting Your Weight In Check by Travis Marshall The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. Finding the perfect amount of weight can be a big challenge for divers. Many people wear more lead than necessary, adding excess air to their BCs to stay neutrally buoyant. But how do you find the right weight for you? The general rule is to carry lead that amounts to 10 percent of your body weight, but that method can fall short when a factor like wetsuit thickness comes into play. Here are five tips to help you dial in the magic number every time. 1. ASK THE DM FOR ASSIS- TANCE If you re on a dive boat, let your divemaster know you d like to do a weight check prior to the dive. In most cases, he ll be happy to help you get in the water ahead of the dive, and give or take extra bricks as you dial in. 2. DO A WEIGHT CHECK Gear up and enter the water wearing your usual amount of weight, with your BC inflated. Float upright on the surface with your head above the water, and release the air from your BC as you take a deep breath from your regulator. If you sink quickly below the surface, you re overweighted. If your head stays a b o v e w a t e r, y o u r e underweighted. If you sink to mask level, you re just right. 3. ADJUST Inflate your BC and swim to the boat to add or remove a couple of pounds accordingly. Once you ve made your adjustment, complete the weight check again. Continue these steps until you float at mask level with an empty BC and a full breath of air in your lungs. Pay attention to your breath: You should descend slowly as you exhale. 4. GET DOWN When perfectly weighted, it s normal for divers to need a little extra help descending through the first few feet of water. You can use your hands to push or a down line to pull yourself down those first few feet, or simply descend head down and kick toward the bottom. 5. ADJUST BUOYANCY BY BREATHING On the bottom, you should need very little air in your BC to stay neutrally buoyant. In fact, skilled divers can control their buoyancy almost entirely through their breathing inhaling slowly to rise in the water column, and exhaling slowly to sink softly to the bottom. R e p r i n t e d f r o m S c u - badiving.com - July 10, 2016.

6 Page 6 Long Island Sound Marine Life Videos by Dr. Bob Bachand Dr Robert (Bob) Bachand s passion has been Nature photography on land, underwater & under the microscope. As a former educator and Florida Certified Master Naturalist, he has published numerous articles on natural history and maritime history. While residing in In Connecticut, Bob served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Long Island Sound Study, he was president of the Long Island Sound Taskforce (chapter of the Oceanic Society) and served as a trustee and co/chair of Education & Programs at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, CT. In that capacity, he also participated in the planning & construction of the aquarium. For his environmental work, he received awards from Connecticut Sea Grant and CT Department of Environmental Protection, Beneath the Sea Dive Show (NY) and Long Island Sound America. Bob has 5 short videos (5 min each) of Long Island Sound marine life that he recently put up on You- Tube. The images are from a large collection (some of his favorites) of LIS marine creatures that he photographed (approximately 350 dives) while living in Norwalk. While a resident of Connecticut he was one of the original members of FCDA. The YouTube presentations can be accessed by going to Youtube.com and entering search: Long Island Sound marinelife. You may view the videos by clicking on the links under the title or by pasting the link into your prowser window. Long Island Sound Marine Life Creatures of the Sand and Mud Long Island Sound Marine Life Living on Rocks, Pilings & Wrecks Long Island Sound Marinelife Plankton ocean drifters Long Island Sound Marine Life Fishes Long Island Sound Lightships

7 Page 7 Deep Vein Thrombosis and Decompression Sickness Risks to us traveling divers don't end with the last dive. To avoid a case of DCS when flying home from a dive trip, we're careful to wait at least 24 hours after our last dive before boarding a plane. And after we are on the plane for the long ride home, it's deep vein thrombosis we need to worry about. In fact, over the years, Undercurrent has reported two cases of divers dying from DVT on a long flight home (it's thought to be prevented by periodically rising from your seat and walking the aisle). It is commonly believed that all pressurized flights maintain a cabin pressure equivalent to somewhere between 7000 and 10,000 feet, although often an aircraft might take some time after take-off to achieve that pressurization, depending on the rate of climb. P. Buzzacott from the University of Western Australia and A. Mollerlokken from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology have begun a project to determine if cabin decompression might favor the formation of vascular bubbles -- deep vein thrombosis -- in commercial air travelers. Cabin pressure was monitored and analyzed in 30 commercial flights. The greatest pressure differentials between model tissues and cabin were estimated for half -time compartments ranging from 20 to 120 minutes. The time to decompress ranged from 11 to 47 minutes. It was found that the drop in cabin pressure was commensurate with that found to cause bubbles in man. The median overall rate of decompression found during this study was five times that prescribed for U.S. Navy saturation divers, meaning that it was more hazardous to take a lengthy commercial flight. So can aviation-related deep vein thrombosis be a form of decompression sickness? Research continues. (Source: pubmed/ ) Reprinted from Undercurrent - July 2016 Diving Shipwrecks In Michigan's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary by Andy Morrison Spanning 4,300 square miles from near the tip of Michigan s mitten down to its second knuckle, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary & Underwater Preserve is the largest federally funded effort in freshwater shipwreck preservation. It wasn t always that big. The first time I visited Thunder Bay, it was 448 square miles of scuba diving adventure. It became one of my favorite Great Lakes dive sites because of the variety and quality of shipwrecks. Years later, on a recent return visit, I was greeted with diving that was just as I remembered spectacular. And because there are dozens of shipwrecks within recreational limits, as well as many that fall within technical range, any level of diver will have plenty to see. Be warned: You ll likely not have nearly enough time to take in all that Thunder Bay has to offer. SHIPWRECK ALLEY Our first day aboard Blackdog Diving Charters was a rainy one. But as we told the patrons in John Boy s Diner, We re going to get wet anyway. We made our way out to the Grecian, a steel bulk freighter that sank in 1906 while being towed for major repair. Visibility can reach as far as 80 feet in Thunder Bay, but on this morning, it was significantly less. What was lost in visibility was more than made up for in the 61- degree temperature, downright balmy for a Great Lakes dive. The first view of the Grecian is of its bow, with its signature anchor davit hanging empty. After some brief exploring, including the intact windlass, we swam over the mostly collapsed body of the 296- foot ship toward the stern and its propeller. Toward the stern, the Grecian regains some of its structure and offers divers an opportunity to drop down into some of its cargo holds. While penetrating the holds brings you closer to Grecian s 105- foot resting depth, divers can easily enjoy this wreck hovering above the deck at about 70 feet. At either depth, the Grecian is a must-see wreck in Thunder Bay. Designated (Continued on page 8)

8 Page 8 Diving Shipwrecks In Michigan's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary by Andy Morrison (continued) (Continued from page 7) in 2000, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of 14 sites managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Although at the time we visited it was the only sanctuary in the Great Lakes, Thunder Bay will likely be joined by a second designation in Lake Michigan off the coast of Wisconsin. The new 875- square-mile preserve would run between Port Washington and Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The areas were chosen because of their variety and sheer number of shipwrecks. In Thunder Bay, they range from oceanfaring freighters to wooden schooners all ships that met their fate in an area known as Shipwreck Alley. Of the bevy of wrecks in the preserve, two share a name. The first New Orleans is the oldest known shipwreck in Thunder Bay and lies in just 13 feet of water. The wooden paddle-wheel steamer ran aground in 1849, and local fishermen were able to rescue the passengers and crew. Little remains of the preserve s matriarch ship, but it s a dive that can t be missed. Conversely, exploring the New Orleans (2) is exclusive to advanced divers. Located 10 miles off the Thunder Bay coast and 150 feet below the surface, this 230-foot bulk freighter joined Shipwreck Alley in 1906 after a collision with a steamer. The steamer survived, but left the New Orleans (2) split in half. Exploring the New Orleans (2) is exclusive to advanced divers. Located 10 miles off the Thunder Bay coast and 150 feet below the surface, this 230-foot bulk freighter joined Shipwreck Alley in 1906 after a collision with a steamer. Other than this battle wound, the ship is mostly intact. A steel freighter that spent much of its time in the oceans, the Monrovia sank in 1959 after a collision in dense fog while making its first and last trip into the fresh waters of the Great Lakes. All crew were rescued, but the ship and its cargo of steel dropped about 140 feet to Lake Huron s bed. The ride to the Monrovia is lengthy, so we decided to spend two dives at the site. The vessel is 448 feet long, so we knew we had lots to explore. We descended on the first dive at midship and made our way toward the bow. The temperature on this wreck was about 41 degrees, much chillier than the Grecian but more in line with typical Great Lakes diving making me thankful I had on a drysuit. After exploring the cabin and crew quarters, we made our way up the line, a moment we shared with a school of lake trout. Although the Great Lakes are certainly teeming with fish, the site of several hanging around the wreck was something new. On our second dive, we dropped down to the deck about 90 feet deep with a plan to drop into the engine room to see some of the ship s mechanics. Although a deck hatch allowed us in and several doorways led us out, only experienced divers should penetrate Monrovia. Sitting upright and mostly in- (Continued on page 9)

9 Diving Shipwrecks In Michigan's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary by Andy Morrison (continued) Page 9 (Continued from page 8) tact, it s is a popular wreck in Thunder Bay and certainly lived up to its reputation. SHALLOW TREASURES The next day, we decided to make the trek to the Nordmeer, which rests about 7 miles off Thunder Bay Island in 40 feet of water. I remember my first visit to the 470-foot steel freighter nearly a decade earlier, when portions of it still could be seen above the water s surface. When the ship was mistakenly run aground in 1966, much of its structure could be seen from land as it lay stranded. Although once a place for locals to picnic and Boy Scouts to camp, Nordmeer eventually succumbed to nearly five decades of harsh winters and layers of ice, and in 2009, the Nordmeer finally sank below the surface. Although there s no more view of the ship from land, it is still a playground of mangled shapes covered in a carpet of algae underwater. Another of Thunder Bay s shallow treasures is one that can be enjoyed just as much by a snorkeler or glass-bottom-boat visitor. Although we were outfitted in our dive gear, we almost didn t need to be; the Monohansett rests at a depth between 14 and 20 feet. In fact, by saving a little air on one of our deeper dives, we were able to squeeze in a lengthy dive the third of the day on the Monohansett. Once a wooden steamer measuring nearly 165 feet in length, the Monohansett was all but destroyed in a 1907 fire. What remains a colossal boiler, its propeller and the bottom portion of its hull, with nails clawing out of the wood is truly a diving treat; most intact wrecks here are too deep to see in natural light. There is so much to explore in Thunder Bay, on land and under the waves. Whether getting wet or staying topside, both divers and nondivers will come away with a true appreciation of Great Lakes maritime history and this national treasure. NEED TO KNOW When To Go: The dive season in the Great Lakes usually begins in late May and lasts through early October. Dive Conditions: There are nearly 100 known shipwrecks and dive sites in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, ranging from novice to technical level. The water is cold it fluctuates between 35 and 65 degrees so a drysuit is highly recommended. Visibility can range from 20 feet to 80 feet and beyond. Operators: Blackdog Diving Charters is run by Capt. Brian A n d e r s o n (CaptBrianAnderson@yahoo.com). Air and nitrox fills and dive-gear rentals are available at Thunder Bay Scuba located in Alpena, as well as through Blackdog Diving Charters. THUNDER BAY ITINERARY Day 1: Stop in Alpena at John Boy s Restaurant for a breakfast buffet fit for a seaman. Keep the adventure going after diving by snorkeling a few of the wrecks right offshore, or stay dry and kayak over them. (Continued on page 10) A steel freighter that spent much of its time in the oceans, the Monrovia sank in 1959 after a collision in dense fog while making its first and last trip into the fresh waters of the Great Lakes.

10 Diving Shipwrecks In Michigan's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary by Andy Morrison (continued) Page 10 (Continued from page 9) Day 2: A trip to the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center offers 9,000 square feet of exhibits, and an archaeological conservation lab and artifact gallery. Hosting about 60,000 visitors yearly, the center is open year-round except major holidays; hours vary by season. Afterward check out Burgies, where you can order a craft beer and a tasty side of crispy Brussels sprouts with mustard dipping sauce to go with signature burgers like the Taco Salad Burger or the Reuben Burger. (Burgies has plenty of turkey burger options and other alternatives too.) Day 3: There s lots to explore on land here as well. In addition to the beaches lining Lake Huron, there are several state parks in the area. Island Park & Wildlife Sanctuary is a serene area within Alpena city limits where you can hike. Or drive a few miles north to Presque Isle, which has two historic and truly picturesque lighthouses. Take the time to seek them both out. You won t be disapointed. NOW IN 3D If you don t have the chance to dive all of Thunder Bay s awesome wrecks and chances are you won t take a virtual tour on the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary website. Managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the site has a plethora of information and includes 3-D tours of some of the preserve s most popular shipwrecks. Reprinted from Scubadiving.com - May 16, Once a wooden steamer measuring nearly 165 feet in length, the Monohansett was all but destroyed in a 1907 fire. What remains a colossal boiler, its propeller and the bottom portion of its hull, with nails clawing out of the wood is truly a diving treat between feet down.

11 Page 11 Next FCDA Meeting Friday, July 29, :00 PM Coast Guard Cottage, South Benson Marina, Fairfield, CT 7:00 PM - Pre Meeting Barbeque (BYOM - Meat!) "Diving Costa Rica" a video presentation by Michelle Lapin & Lisa Jarosik A video presentation by Michelle Lapin with introduction by Lisa Jarosik. Presentation will highlight a recent group trip to Costa Rica where we encountered a variety of marine life including guitar fish, large schools of fish, mantas, white tips, octopus and a bull shark.