The lucky winners for May

First off, thanks again to Sport Chalet and Hollywood Divers for their always generous support. By the way, Hollywood Divers has a Galapagos Trip scheduled for June 24-July 1, 2012 if anyone wants a last minute trip of a lifetime. Call them at 323-969-9666. So with no further delay, here are the lucky ones: $50 Sport Chalet Gift card - Paul, First Aid Kit - Lars Dennert, Headlight - Lars Dennert, Underwater slate - Scott, Weight pocket - Bob James, Divers Log - Mini, Dry bag - Bob James Mask Straps - Chris H, Aussie Hat - John Marin, Hollywood Divers Nitrox card - John Marin, Hollywood Divers Nitrox card - Paul, T shirt - Laura Steckler, Booties - Laura Steckler,

What we divers do sometimes

This mention is kind of late... actually something like three years late, but I felt it was worthy of being told.  On our annual club resort trip in 2009, we stayed at the Sunset Waters Beach Resort in Curacao.  Towards the end of this week long stay, our member Dave Gaines motivated our group to help clean up the shore near our resort.  

Although not even being close to the trash you might see here on the freeways of L.A., due to the constant breeze near the inlet, plastic bags, cups, and other man made trash had collected on the shore of the waterway opposite the resort.  Some of the shrubs were decorated with shredded white plastic bags, which is sad to see on such a remote location.  It was enough to blemish this otherwise beautiful landscape, and enough to motivate Dave to suggest getting a group together to collect the trash.

Also, it felt good to volunteer one afternoon out of our week stay to do a little good deed for our host island.  

As you can see in the photos, the effort of the group yielded a good amount of trash.   And the resort people seemed happy too to see that American tourist can care enough to help clean and improve the environment, and not just dive, eat, drink, and throw our money around (not that I have any money to throw around).  One member, Rosa even took an urchin spine to her foot while collecting trash in shallow waters.  What a trooper!  But don't worry, she is fine and is still a great diver ;-)

So, a very late, but deserved Kudos goes to "Captain Cleanup" Dave Gaines for motivating everyone to help cleanup, and leave this earth a little better place.

Karl Huggins at our next meeting

We have Karl Huggins at our next meeting, Monday, April 9.

He'll be presenting "The Price of Panic" - Panic issues and diving accidents

Karl Huggins has been the Director of the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber Facility at the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center

since 1992 and has been involved with treating hundreds of divers over the last 20 years. He started diving in 1977 and has been a NAUI Instructor since 1980.

He is noted for his work in decompression theory and models, which resulted in the Michigan Sea Grant (HUGI) tables and his participation in the development of the EDGE dive computer. Karl enjoys educating divers in the area of decompression (making divers more aware of the limitations of dive tables and computers) and diving safety. To that end he has given hundreds of lectures, seminars, and workshops as a featured speaker at conferences around the world. He has authored many articles and publications on decompression theory including "The Dynamics of Decompression Workbook," and contributing to "Dive Computers - A Consumer's Guide to History, Theory, and Performance" and "Women and Pressure - Diving and Altitude." Karl is the 1990 recipient of the Leonard Greenstone Diving Safety Award, the DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year for 1993, the 2004 Conrad Limbaugh Memorial Award for Scientific Diving Leadership and the 2008 California Scuba Service Award.

March Raffle Prize Winners!

Sole Searchers Dive Club would like to thank Sport Chalet, Hollywood Divers, and Project Aware for their generous donations to this month's club raffle prizes!  The winners are.

$50 Sport Chalet gift card: Rosa
Pelican dry case: Leonard K.
Hollywood Divers 10 airfil card: Kaz
Hollywood Divers 10 airfill card: Michael
Hollywood Divers 10 airfill card: Leonard K.
Hollywood Divers 10 airfoil card: Kaz
Hollywood Divers 10 Nitrox fill card: Cesar
Yukon 3D card: Bob James
Mask strap: Leonard K.
Knife strap: Jovy
Hollywood Divers T-shirt: Paul Yochim
Trident BCD, Glove Hanger: Kaz
Cowboy style dive hat: Michael
Project Aware Polo Shirt: Sheree Lahey
Project Aware Polo Shirt: Laura H. Steckler
Project Aware Polo Shirt: Shawn Broes
Project Aware Polo Shirt: Paul Yochim
Project Aware Ball Cap: Lars Dennert
Project Aware Ball Cap: Paul Yochim

41st Annual California Wreck Divers banquet

Last night was the 41st annual California Wreck Divers banquet. Great turn out, and Zale did not disappoint. She had an amazing collection of old commercials, features, and of course Sea Hunt to share. She's out of my league for our club speakers, but it was great to finally meet her, and I sure met some other interesting folks, too. This group of women are some of the locals in the Women Divers Hall of Fame.
Their next monthly gathering is a joint meeting with the Adventurer's Club of L.A. hosted by David Finnern. He presented for us last year. Normally one must be a member to attend, but this time all are invited! It's Thursday, March 22 (yes, coming right up) at their downtown club. Details at our next meeting.

http://www.wdhof.org/

http://www.adventurersclub.org/

Divers Day at AOP, 2012

California Wreck Divers 41st Annual Banquet

Guest Speaker

Zale Parry

at the California Wreck Divers

Annual Banquet March 3th, 2012

We are honored to have Zale Parry, pioneering lady diver, depth record holder, actress, stunt-woman, safety diver, scuba instructor, movie maker and accomplished underwater photographer, scuba equipment developer and world famous Author. Zale will be our Guest Speaker at our Annual Awards Banquet Saturday, March 3th, 2012. Mark your calendars and don't miss this exciting presentation!