Lunarfins of JSC Houston

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1 Lunarscope July 2013 Lunarfins of JSC Houston In This Issue Page 2 President s Corner Classes 3 Events Page T-shirts 4 NOAA reports 5 Pending Member Trips 6 Pending Dive Shop Trips 7 Recent Dive Trip 8 Surface Intervals Be safe this summer! Deadline for articles: First Wednesday Next meeting: Wed., July Lunarfins, a non-profit club that promotes the sport of scuba diving. Ted Daniels will be presenting on behalf of 288 Lake for the July 10 th meeting. Ted holds a degree from Birmingham University UK in geology and applied geophysics. He is a seasoned diver and long time supporter of 288 Lake who has offered his services on many occasions to assist with special projects. Owner/operator of 288 Lake, Jimmy Lombardo, will be on hand with a special offer available only to members of the NASA Lunarfins Scuba Dive Club! Jimmy will be offering 288 Lake Annual Dive memberships, valid for one year from the date of purchase, exclusively for our members. Dive memberships are regularly $450.00; our club rate for a limited time is an amazing $300; that's $150 off the regular price. Make sure not to miss this meeting! General Meeting Information Where: Clear Lake Park; 5001 NASA Road 1, on the South (lake) side of NASA Road One. When: Second Wednesday of each month except December at 7 p.m. Come early for a social time at 6:30 p.m. Join us afterward at Mario's in Seabrook for food, drink and camaraderie. Elected Officers: President Barbara Corbin bjcorbin04@yahoo.com Vice President Mike Peters mgpetershome@comcast.net Secretary Mary Smith marysmith231950@yahoo.com Treasurer Gloria McGlothlin gloria_mcglothlin@hotmail.com Social Director Louise Toole toolelouise@gmail.com Equipment Mike Smith toole_shed@yahoo.com Appointed: Training Information Bill Jones mr.bill.jones@comcast.net Trip Information OPEN TGCC Representative Tom Burns tmbrns@sbcglobal.net Advisors Fred Toole & George Clark Newsletter Polly Swerdlin pmswerdlin@gmail.com & Website Editor Please Note: Different Address!!

2 President s Corner Barbara Corbin Well the summer is here in full Houston style. Hope everyone stayed cool over the last few weeks. Last month's speaker, Jess Stark talked about lionfish and the invasion of Gulf Waters. We thank Jess for an interesting presentation. I'd like to welcome the new members, including some very new certified divers. Louise has been hard at work arranging special events. We had a great turn-out for the happy hour at Tommy' s. We heard lots of good stories about Roatan. This month, Louise is planning a pot luck picnic. We were originally thinking about a local park, but that creates an issue with alcoholic beverages. Louise is looking for a member interested in hosting the picnic. I hosted last year and we had a great time and plenty of food. Next month, Louise is planning a dive outing at 288 Lake and Mike has arranged to have one of their reps come talk to us at this month's meeting. Should be a good precursor to the outing. Polly has been hard at work updating the Lunarfins website. She's done an outstanding job and I love the new look. Go check it out and feel free to submit photos or equipment wants or sale items. Let Polly know what you think about the new look. Thank you Polly for all your hard work! TGCC 2013 Scholarship Award Congratulations to Cydney Herring, the $2,000 winner PADI Scuba Classes for 2013 Next Open Water (Beginner & Refresher) will be July 19. The water will be warm! Advanced and Specialty July 27 me if you want to do Advanced Classes, Nitrox EANx, Rescue, Refreshers, and Specialties. You can do those at Blue Lagoon 2, Site 1. You are welcome to join us to just party or try out your Scuba gear. mr.bill.jones@comcast.net Keep in mind we ll be looking for good pictures for the yearly POSTER in December. July 2013 Lunarscope 2

3 Events Page Deadline for Lunarscope articles: First Wednesday of each month except December Jul 27 Aug 17 Sep 7 Oct 4-6 Oct 12 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Apr May Jun Events Calendar 2013 Pot Luck Picnic Diving at 288 Lake Beach Party Trash Fest Breakfast & Diver s Market Brunch Christmas Party 2014 TGCC Awards Banquet Hyperbaric Chamber Tour BBQ Diner JSC Health & Safety Day Lunarfins Open Blue Lagoon Happy Hour The events without dates have been copied from what we did previous years as an example Pot Luck Picnic (Location TBD) Watch your Inbox Date: July 27, 2013 Time: 1600 Lunarfins Board Meetings are held the last Tuesday each month (except Dec.) at 7pm. Tony s BBQ Gemini If you have an issue to bring before the board, contact any board member to get on the agenda. Order Lunarfins embroidered shirts We've selected a few possibilities to choose from, but you can also purchase your own shirt and have it embroidered with the logo. We will be submitting the next order when we have a minimum of 12. An additional sleeve patch can be added this year either to a new one or one that already has the logo Years The catalog and order forms will be available at our meetings and are on our web page. If you have pictures to contribute to the newsletter or our web page, you may send to pmswerdlin@gmail.com or hand me photos, slides, negatives or digitals on a flash drive at any local meeting of the minds. They will be returned when scanned or downloaded. Photo credits can be added in the corner or mentioned in the description. July 2013 Lunarscope 3

4 For Your Information Fwd by Jesse Cancelmo via Captain Randy Below is the announcement of the release of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries' (ONMS) National Marine Sanctuary System Condition Report I'm writing to ask your assistance in distributing the announcement to your advisory council members and, through them, to the broader constituent community. The purpose of the report is to inform ONMS and its partners on priority issues and challenges facing the 13 national marine sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as a system, and to discuss actions to address them. We will use the document to engage partners, political interests and academic organizations in both challenges and opportunities facing the sanctuaries; promote a better understanding of the system; and solicit support that furthers the program mission and addresses its priorities and needs. Together with site-based reports, the National Condition Report will help direct the course of development and support for conservation science across the national system. Though the report is not intended to act as an implementation plan, it does provide a synthesis of nationally-significant information that can help inform sanctuary-level conservation science programming, investment and decision making. Condition reports for each unit of the National Marine Sanctuary System were prepared over the last six years and discuss site-based resource status and trends, human pressures and ways of addressing them, and accomplishments and gaps in conservation science. They are influential in supporting management, but also keep the public informed and engaged in conservation efforts. The National Condition Report has similar uses, but considers these matters across the National Marine Sanctuary System. Among the natural and archaeological resource concerns identified in the report, a number stand out: marine debris entanglement, trapping and ingestion, loss of biodiversity, wildlife disturbance, and ship strikes, to name a few. Numerous sanctuaries also report changes in key species, which warrant special attention because of their integral role in a balanced ecosystem. Most have documented troubling invasions by non-indigenous species that can displace native species, disrupt ecosystems and damage fisheries. Many also present concerns about the effects of tourism, visitation and coastal development, which can cause intentional and unintentional impacts to sanctuary resources. In the face of these pressures, the National Condition Report describes how sanctuaries are making important strides in resource protection through progressive, science-based management, targeted resource protection programs and engaging education and outreach activities. Developments in conservation science continue to support management actions that mitigate pressures on sanctuary resources despite limited budgets that prevent the program from reaching its full potential. The report also discusses the need for more monitoring and research, the critical role of dedicated citizens who volunteer their time and talents, and the role of partnerships and coordination with communities and local, state, federal, and territorial governments in protecting special marine places. We hope you find the National Condition Report not only a useful information source, but also an attractive invitation to partners who can help protect, understand, and enjoy the National Marine Sanctuary System. Dr. Steve Gittings, Science Coordinator steve.gittings@noaa.gov NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 1305 East West Hwy., N/ORM62 Silver Spring, MD (w), (c) July 2013 Lunarscope 4

5 Pending Member Dive Trip BILL JONES 12 th ANNUAL COZUMEL VACATION 2013 Staying at the fabulous Hotel Cozumel & Resort Aug 5 for 5 Days, 4 Nights approx. $899 or Aug 5 for 8 Days, 7 Nights approx $1099 Group Package Price Includes: Air Fare, Ground Transportation, Hotel Accommodations ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK Including Soft Drinks, Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Mixed Drinks, Specialty Drinks, Shots, and High Balls All Taxes, Exit Fees, and Gratuities DIVING AVAILABLE BUT NOT INCLUDED mr.bill.jones@comcast.net for details Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. - Will Rogers July 2013 Lunarscope 5

6 Upcoming Trips Offered by Local Dive Shops Bahamas September 13-18, 2013 $1000 pp based on double occupancy Offered by Maximum Scuba, staying at Northside Inn. Price includes: Hotel, Daily Breakfast, Lunch on boat or nearby beach, 4 days, 3 tank boat dives, Shared Rental Car. Airfare not included Bonaire August 9-17, 2013 $1326 pp based on double occupancy Offered by Gigglin Marlin, staying at Dive Buddy Inn. Price includes: Unlimited shore diving, nitrox, 6 days of 1 tank boat diving, shared rental car. Airfare not included. Ned and Anna Deloach will be conducting Seminars at the same time Cozumel July 17-22, 2013 $893 pp based on double occupancy Offered by Gigglin Marlin, staying at Casa Del Mar. Price includes Hotel, all meals, diving, hotel taxes and airport transfers. Airfare not included, but can be arranged if needed. This year we have an optional Cenote Cavern Dive as an upgrade to your package November 20-26, 2013 $870 pp based on double occupancy Offered by Maximum Scuba, staying at Hotel Cozumel. Price includes Hotel, all meals, diving, non-motorized water sports, hotel taxes and airport transfers. Airfare not included. 5 th day of diving can be added for an additional $ Flower Gardens - Texas Coral Reefs See schedule below $570 pp. $65 additional for nitrox Offered by Gigglin Marlin and Island Divers 2013 Dive Schedule: July 27th - 28th September 21st - 22nd Solomon Islands September 7-17,2013 $6995 pp based on double occupancy Offered by Oceanic Ventures, staying on M/V Bilikiki. Price includes round trip airfare from Los Angeles, LAX, on Air Pacific and Solomon Air, taxes and transfers, full meal plan, snacks, coffee & tea, island visits while on board, unlimited diving & snorkeling, bed taxes, trip leader and pre-trip party and meeting! Business class upgrades on airfare to and from Nadi Fiji are possible and estimated at $600 each way. Variance in schedules could cause a $600-$800 increase in fare due to the limited number of weekly flights into Honiara, S.I. Not Included: Air from Houston, IAH, to Los Angeles, LAX, tips for boat crew, nitrox, meals in transit, bar bill, marine park fee, other activities, hotel, extensions and shopping July 2013 Lunarscope 6

7 Recent Dive Trip Roatan by Fred Toole A group of Lunarfins recently returned from the Roatan trip arranged by the Herring s. The entire group had been on last years Roatan trip. Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras, 33 miles by 4 miles, and about 20 miles off the coast of Honduras. The island is the above water projection of the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean (second largest worldwide after Australia's Great Barrier Reef). We stayed at the Splash Inn, a 24-room hotel in the small community of West End. West End is on the waters edge at northwest corner of the island, several miles from Anthony s Key Resort. The community has several small hotels, our favorite restaurants from previous trips, mini markets, street vendors, and bars. Splash Inn has an open-air restaurant over looking the Caribbean, and fully equipped dive shop. Both have a great staff. Most rooms have an ocean view. The dive shop has equipment rentals, nitrox, two wash tanks for gear, a drying room, and a secure storage room. The staff loaded tanks and setup our gear on the boat for our dives. All we had to do was walk approx. 50 yards to the boat, check our gear, and we were off. There are over 70 dive sites at West End, most less than 15 minutes from the dock. The morning dive was at 9:00, and for the surface interval we came back to the dive shop and enjoyed cold watermelon before the second dive at 11:30. We would be back at Splash Inn for lunch, and then it would be time for siesta or prepare for the 3:00 dive. Night dives were also available. It would be easy to make four dives a day. Diving condition were near perfect. Water temp around 82, seas calm, visibility excellent, and little to no current. Top of the reefs averaged 25 to 30 feet and then the wall. Dives began at a mooring buoy or the boat followed as we swam along the reef. Since several Lunarfins were photographers, the dive guides let us set the pace. Most bottom times were 50 to 60 minutes. Wall dives offered sheer drop offs, giant sponges, swim trough's, caverns with available light, and crevices. One swim through was the Hole in the Wall, which began at the top of the reef and exited on the face of the wall at 110 feet. Top of the reefs offered coral gardens and a variety marine life. The waters around Roatan are marine sanctuaries so there is a great variety of sea life. A few of the highlights were: numerous huge groupers (all kinds) nice wreck dives, Hole in the Wall, blennies, cryptic teardrop crabs, anemone shrimp, turtles, nudibranchs, morays, midnight parrotfish, and great barracuda. Saw only a couple of lionfish. Everyone is in agreement we are looking forward to a return trip. These pictures are on our web page Photo Gallery Members Photos Thank you Fred! July 2013 Lunarscope 7

8 Surface Intervals June 12 Meeting Jesse Stark and Lionfish in the Atlantic June 24 Happy Tommy s Restaurant & Oyster Bar July 2013 Lunarscope 8