The Presidents Corner by Mike Cassetta

Transcription

1 FAIRFIELD COUNTY DIVING ASSOCIATION January 2015 Volume 22 Issue 1 Inside this Issue The Presidents Corner by Mike Cassetta page 1 FCDA Donor I page 2 November Raffle Winners page 3 Events of Interest to FCDA Members page 3 FCDA Member Ads page FCDA Financial Report page FCDA Schedule page 5 FCDA Donors II page 6 The Healthy Diver: Beats the Headache Blues page 6 Store your Scuba Gear for Winter pages 7, 8 Undiscovered Shipwreck cluster on Lake Michigan Next FCDA Meeting page 9 page 10 The Presidents Corner by Mike Cassetta Happy New Year's to all. I hope everybody enjoyed the holidays. We look forward to resuming our normal meeting schedule with the next planned presentation on Friday, January 30th. I will be sharing some photos and a video from a recent experience diving in the Ocean Explorer exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium, home to several mantas, a sawfish, and 4 whale sharks. Winter in New England generally awful. This is a great time of year to travel and/or to have your gear serviced. If you have not been diving in a while, visit one of our excellent local shops and take a pool refresher course before your next trip. We are in the process of scheduling meetings for if you have taking a recent exciting trip, or even a boring one, let us know and we would love to see your photos/videos. Additionally, if you know of any speakers you feel would be appropriate, please let Matt or me know. BTW: Inappropriate may be OK as well. In December, we held an open house Christmas party at the cottage. The food was excellent, spirits were high and someone sang an excellent karaoke version of the Glen Campbell classic Rhinestone Cowboy. I am sure you are bumming if you missed it. Prior to our meeting on January 30th, we will be holding our annual elections. If you or not there, you just may be elected to office. P.S. That is a real threat. Look forward to seeing y'all, have a happy and healthy New Year and good diving...mike

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. New England's Tech Diving Center! New England Dive Center 476 North Colony Street Wallingford, CT Fax Dealer for OMS, UWATEC, Oceanic, Mares, Dacor, C r e s s i - S u b, P o s e i d o n, Scubapro, Bare, O ' N e i l l a n d Henderson. P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT Internet mail: fcda@aol.com Presidents 2014 Board Matt Rownin & Mike Cassetta Vice-President Mark Shannon Secretary Treasurer Charles Blanchette Paul J. Gacek The region's foremost source for scuba and technical diving gear, t r a i n i n g a n d everything for the r e c r e a t i o n a l o r 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 November Raffle Winners After a presentation on "Fabien Cousteau's Mission 31", by Dr. David Charash, the club held its regular raffle to support our DAN Platinum sponsorship. The winners were: E-Dry donated by New England Dive Center Mark Shannon; Silicone Grease Silicone Lubricant donated by New England Dive Center Lisa Jarosik; Rescue Sausage with Whistle donated by New England Dive Center C. C. Cassetta; E-Z Wrap Mask Strap donated by New England Dive Center Tom Thomes; Anti Fog Sport Pump donated by New England Dive Center - Kate Rickard; Dive Gloves donated by New England Dive Center Tom Thomes. Thanks to New England Dive Center for donating tonight s raffle prizes for our DAN raffle. Events of Interest to FCDA Members Feb. 28, 2015 Boston Scuba Show March 6-8 Boston Sea Rovers 2015 March Beneath the Sea 2015 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 FCDA Financial Report 2014 Balance as of 12/31/2013 $2, DESCRIPTION INCOME EXPENSE GAIN/(LOSS) Ads $ $ Dues $ $ Speakers $ ($165.00) DAN Raffles $ $ DAN Sponsor $ ($750.00) Refreshments $ $ ($87.28) Easter Egg Hunt $23.00 $64.34 ($41.34) Pumpkin Carving $5.00 $50.51 ($45.51) Xeroxing $90.61 ($90.61) Web Page $ ($118.80) Postage $7.37 ($7.37) TOTALS $1, $1, ($151.91) Balance as of 12/31/2014 $2, /20/2015 Treasurer

5 Page FCDA Schedule DAY DATE TIME EVENT Friday January 30, :00 PM January Meeting Friday February 27, :00 PM February Meeting Saturday February 28, 2015 Boston SCUBA Show Saturday March 6-8, 2015 Boston Sea Rovers 2015 March 27-29, 2015 Beneath the Sea 2015 No March Meeting Friday April 24, :00 PM April Meeting Friday May 29, :00 PM Pre Meeting Barbeque 8:00 PM May Meeting Saturday June 6, :00 PM Kick Off the Season Clambake Friday June 26, :00 PM Pre Meeting Barbeque 8:00 PM June Meeting Friday July 31, :00 PM Pre Meeting Barbeque 8:00 PM July Meeting Friday August 28, :00 PM Pre Meeting Barbeque 8:00 PM August Meeting Friday September 25, :00 PM September Meeting Friday October 30, :00 PM October Meeting Friday November 20, :00 PM November Meeting (Moved - Thanksgiving) Friday December 4, :00 PM FCDA Holiday Party

6 Page 6 The Healthy Diver: Beats the Headache Blues FCDA Donor The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. The tranquil underwater world may put your mind at ease, but for many divers, the hours that follow can be one big headache. Don t let throbbing pain put a damper on your next dive. Here s a look at the most common culprits and how to head them off at the pass. Loosen up: Your hood is tight. Your wetsuit is tight. Your mask is tight. You ve got your jaw in a death grip around your regulator. Does your head hurt yet? Of course it does. If your equipment fit 10 years ago and you re, um, a decade heavier, consider upgrading your equipment. Pay attention during the dive to how you hold the reg in your mouth: Are you clenching it? Bite down gently on your mouthpiece. And a well-fitted mask doesn t need to be cinched within an inch of its life. The more restricted and constricted you are, the more likely you are to emerge with a headache. B r e a t h e, b r e a t h e, breathe. Carbon dioxide buildup is one of the most common causes of post-dive headaches. CO2 can only build up when you don t get enough oxygen. So it s common in people who take small sips off their regulator or skip breathe by pausing after every inhalation and holding their air before exhaling. Avoid CO2 buildup headaches by taking full, even breaths off your regulator. Drink up. Dehydration will make you headachy in a hurry. Between the hot sun and the long days on and under the water, it can be easy to let your fluid intake slide. Have a fresh, full bottle of H2O with you at all times. And avoid alcohol. Too much alcohol leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, leaving you headachy, fuzzy-headed, queasy and fatigued the next day. Drink Upexplores the negative aspects of dehydration in more detail. Stay in shape. Research has shown that regular exercise reduces a whole host of ailments, including headaches. Fitness can start with something as easy as w a l k i n g. T h e H e a l t h y Diver column has published a number of articles on exercises designed to improve your fitness as a diver. Check the Related Articles below. Clear those sinuses. Sinus barotrauma or squeeze is another common cause of post dive head pain. These skull crushers are especially common in divers who have problems equalizing. When you shift depths without properly equalizing, your sinuses may take a squeeze causing a shot of pain across your forehead and eyes. This one requires medical help. Once the condition is resolved, you'll need to figure out a way to equalize successfully. Be sure to descend and ascend very slowly, equalizing every step of the way. Reprint from Sports Diver Jan 7, 2015

7 Page 7 Store Your Scuba Gear for Winter by Natalie Gibb As the weather turns chilly, many divers pack away their scuba gear for the winter (or at least until the winter holidays). Dive equipment storage is an art in itself. Here are some hints on how to properly pack and store your dive gear. Step 1: Wash and Dry Gear Wash your dive equipment with fresh water. Salt water residue crystalizes and wrecks havoc on scuba gear. Chlorine discolors and slowly eats away fabrics. Even "fresh" water from lakes (or cenotes) may contain bacteria or minerals. Dry dive gear completely before storage. This may require some patience; in humid environments scuba equipment may take several days to completely dry. To accelerate the process, hang your scuba toys in an air c o n d i t i o n e d ( o r d e - humidified) room or place a fan in front of the drying station. Do not dry any gear in the sun. While equipment may dry quickly in the sun, UV rays can be harmful to fabric, neoprene, and silicon. Wetsuits and hoods should be dried inside-out to help prevent the seals around the neck, wrists, shoulders, and face from sticking together. Buoyancy compensators (BCDs) should be slightly inflated before drying to ensure that the interior does not adhere to itself. Step 2: Choose Storage Containers While it may seem tempting to shove all of your dive equipment into your gear bag and throw it in the closet, this is not the best way to store your gear. Scuba equipment is a favorite hideout for all sorts of creepy crawlies. A cockroach's love of neoprene is second only to its fiendish delight in nibbling silicon mask seals. Finding a spider in your dive booties (or worse, in your regulator) is not a good way to start the new dive season. My advice? Seal your gear in plastic storage containers or hang it. Any plastic storage container that seals works well for storing scuba equipment. My preference is for clear storage containers that allow me to see the box's contents. A good trick when storing gear in humid environments is to purchase or save silica desiccant packets and toss them in the storage containers with your gear. This will keep scuba equipment from developing a musty or mildew smell. If you choose to hang your dive gear, purchase proper hangers. Wetsuits should be hung on wide hangers that do not distort their shape. Some divers even prefer to hang wetsuits folded over a wide "pants" hanger so as not to have the entire weight of the suit pulling down and stretching it. Gear hangers with hooks to hang boots, buoyancy compensators, regulators and even fins are commercially available. Step 3: Prepare Your Scuba Gear for Storage Each piece of gear should be stored in a particular way. Diving fins are sold with (Continued on page 8)

8 Page 8 Store Your Scuba Gear for Winter by Natalie Gibb (continued) (Continued from page 7) plastic inserts that help the foot pocket to keep its shape. Fin foot pockets are flexible and will retain creases and folds which may prevent them from fitting properly. Keep the plastic inserts and put them in the foot pockets whenever you store your fins. If you no longer have the plastic inserts, stuff the fin pockets with old socks (or anything) to help them keep their shape. Store fins flat. When stored vertically, the fin blade can bend and you will look like a Christmas elf with up-turned toes the next time you go diving. Scuba masks should be stored in a mask box to prevent the silicon from folding. An improperly stored mask will hold a distorted shape and may not fit properly after storage. Be especially careful with masks made with clear silicon. Clear silicon can easily stain if stored in contact with black rubber or other dark items. Snorkels should be detached from masks and stored in a similar manner, taking great care to avoid warping the mouth- piece. Wetsuits should be hung or rolled for storage. Folding a wetsuit can lead to permanent creases which will affect the suit's fit, comfort, and thermal properties. Drysuits usually do best when stored in their original bag. Buoyancy compensators (BCDs) must be stored with some air inside. If not, the inflatable bag in the BCD may stick to itself. Regulators should always be stored with the dust cap in place. Even in seemly dry environments, humidity from the air may creep into the first stage and do damage over a long period of time. If you plan to pack your regulators in a box, loosely coil them, ensuring that the hoses are not kinked. Dive computers and other electronics must be perfectly rinsed and completely dry. Any item subject to rust, namely dive knives or clips, can be sprayed down with commercially available silicon spray. This keeps rust to a minimum and ensures that the moving parts on clips function smoothly. Step 4: Plan for Your Next Dive Season Dive equipment requires regular maintenance. Consider whether your regulators may need servicing before the next dive season. If so, pack them in a manner that they are easily accessible. Check dive computer batteries.. If a battery is low, offseason is the perfect time to send the computer in to the manufacturer to have the battery changed out. Remember that even with proper storage, dive gear should be revised for leaks and other problems after a period of disuse. O-rings and seals can dry out or stick together, and the worst place to discover this is after you have arrived at your dive destination. Now that the work is done, sit back, relax, and dream of your next dive trip. Reprint from Underwater Times Nov. 9, 2014

9 Page 9 Undiscovered Shipwreck Cluster in Lake Michigan by Garret Ellison LAKE MICHIGAN There s not much to see on the Island of Skillagalee. The spit of land, barely larger than a couple football fields, boasts a lighthouse and an impressive seagull population. Above water, that s about it. Skillagalee-Isle Aux Galets(2) Skillagalee Island is located in northeast Lake Michigan approximately 7 miles northwest of Cross Village in Emmet County.Courtesy Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Below the surface of Lake Michigan, however, it s a different story. Shipwreck diver Ross Richardson says he found a cluster of previously undiscovered wrecks this summer in the waters around Skillagalee, including the remains of a large sidewheel steamer that ran around there in I was looking for wrecks that haven t been discovered and have a decent last known position, said Richardson, a diver and author from Grand Rapids who lives in Lake Ann. This is kind of the last place in Lake Michigan where there s a concentration of wrecks that are undiscovered, but somewhat attainable. Richardson, an avid diver who discovered the long lost wreck of the Westmoreland in 2010, spent the summer making trips to Skillagalee in search of shallow wrecks he d spend the winter researching while sidelined with a knee injury. Related: Cargo of gold & whiskey fuels legend of the Westmoreland Located midway between Cross Village and Beaver Island, Skillagalee extends a pair of treacherous underwater tentacles in the form of shallow gravel shoals to the northeast and the northwest. The reefs, about four feet under the surface, proved to be the doom of many ships in the days before advanced navigation. Once run aground, ships would be abandoned and stripped of valuables. Battered by wind, waves and ice, the hulls would soon slip beneath the water. A.D. Patchin.jpgDiver Ross Richardson believes he found the wreck of the A.D. Patchin, a sidewheel steamer that ran aground o n S k i l l a g a l e e i s l a n d i n 1850.Courtesy Ross Richardson Such was the death of the A.D. Patchin, a 226 foot-long wooden sidewheel steamer that grounded on Skillagalee on Sept. 27, The crew escaped but weather thwarted attempts to refloat the vessel. The wreck prompted the construction of the island lighthouse. Richardson believes he found the Patchin s remains in 30- to 35- foot water off the Skilagalee shoal. The ship's remains are lying on its port side, with roughly half the wreck, the bow end, protruding from the sand and gravel. Identification as the Patchin is an educated guess based on its size and location. He surmises that ice and waves over the years pushed the Patchin s remains off the reef and into the deeper water, where it lay hidden with Skillagalee s other victims. Elsewhere around the island, Richardson found four other wreck sites. Wreck Site B is the largest Skillagalee wreck sites and has the most artifacts present, he says. Three major hull pieces can be seen and the area is strewn with mast hoops, chain and shackles. Richardson believes it to be the wreck of the 150-foot brig Julia Dean, which stranded at Skillagalee on October 6, He said the Dean s captain accused Beaver Island pirates of luring the ship to its doom, although the island s Mormon population vigorously denied the claim. At Wreck Site C, Richardson found the keel of sailing vessel, measuring 63 feet in length with a beam of 22 feet. A couple artifacts were present at the site, which rests in 30 feet of water. The wreck is unidentified. At Wreck Site D, Richardson found a 95-foot long high side of a ship s hull in 35 feet of water. The wreck is unidentified. At Wreck Site E, he found the side of a very old sailing vessel in 20 feet of water. The wreck is unidentified. In his three trips to the island this summer, Richardson found other manmade targets around the Skillagalee reefs while moving the lawn with side-scan sonar but was not able to dive them. He believes there to be even more wrecks in the area, probably buried in sand and gravel. He dove the wreck sites solo this summer, documenting each trip with a GoPro camera attached to a clear acrylic pole. The videos are posted on YouTube afterwards and feature a dive-suited Richardson manipulating the camera using a handle grip at the end of the pole. Richardson modeled the technique after a South African diver who makes similar videos. He s hoping it catches on with other divers in the region. I thought the technique was brilliant, he said. Great Lakes wreck filming has pretty much stayed the same for decades you move the camera slowly over the wet wood. I wanted to get the diver in the shot for perspective. Filming the wrecks, he said, is a way to share the history and experience. The wrecks, he said, are right here in our backyard. You only have to travel a few hours to come across a place that people haven t been to in a really long time. Reprint from Underwater Times Nov. 9, 2014

10 Page 10 Next FCDA Meeting Friday, January 30, :00 PM Coast Guard Cottage, South Benson Marina, Fairfield, CT "Diving the Georgia Aquarium" a presentation by Mike Cassetta, DO Join us for the first meeting of the new year. Our own Dr Mike will be sharing some photos and a video from a recent experience diving in the Ocean Explorer exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium - home to several mantas, a sawfish and 4 whale sharks Fairfield County Diving Association P.O. Box 3005 Fairfield, CT Address Service Requested