Monday April 13, 2015 Meeting Speaker info

I'm happy to announce our speaker for this Monday is the one and only Captain Patrick Smith! He's going to be showing us Long Wharf - a mile long wharf built in the 1890s that most divers and people don't know about. An amazing local dive! Pat is a California native with a BA in History from UCLA & MA in Public History / Historic Preservation from Cal State, Dominguez Hills. He has been diving since 1961(!) and a NAUI scuba instructor since 1979. He is a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain - 100 ton vessels, worked sport and commercial fishing/diving vessels 10 years, worked NOAA & National Park Service projects & vessels 20 years. He's a commercial diver, scientific diver, Co-author of Shipwrecks of Southern California, published papers with the Society for Historical Archaeology and the Society for California Archaeology. He's written articles in such publications as California Diver, California Diving News, Skin Diver Magazine, Pacific Diver, Underwater USA, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Sub Aqua Journal. He's consultant to NOAA, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, and the State of California, he's one of very few non-military, non-government divers permitted to carry out UW research on the USS Arizona, he's done numerous presentations to students from elementary to university level, as well as historical societies, dive and other groups. He's the recipient of SSI 5000 Platinum Pro award for service to the diving community and over 7,000 dives, recipient of 2012 Lighthouse Award from Department of the Interior for 20 years of Submerged Cultural Research work with the National Park Service. Board of directors, Los Angeles Maritime Museum Research Society Board of directors, Coastal Maritime Archaeology Resources-CMAR Board of directors California Ships to Reefs Education Director, California Ships to Reefs Yikes, right? Plus... he's the guy that was married underwater last week at the Aquarium of the Pacific. May need some champagne, I'm thinking. Be there Monday April 13, 2015

Dive opportunities at the California Science Center

Please join us this Monday 3/9/15 for a presentation by Valerie Thompson and Sole Searchers alumni Darrell Montegue. They will be discussing volunteer dive opportunities at the California Science Center. The science center has a 188,000 gallon kelp tank and volunteers assist staff with the daily maintenance, feeding aquatic animals and participating in dive shows for guests. Darrell has been working in the dive industry for over 15 years. Prior to his current position as Dive Safety Officer for the California Science Center, he trained divers for the California Institute of Technology, and was Dive Safety Officer and expedition medic on remote dive operations for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, National Geographic, and several film and television productions. He currently supervises a team of 75 divers comprised of paid staff and volunteers who work in the exhibits and on collection trips and conservation projects. Darrell will be talking about the California Science Center’s dive program and volunteer diving opportunities, answering any questions you may have. Valerie has been working at the Science Center as Volunteer Manager for several years. She currently manages 320 volunteers at the Science Center. What she loves best about her job is meeting new people and that she learns something new every day. Let's eat, drink, learn, & dive!

New for 2015

To ring in the new year we have revamped our website. A fresh new look with organized content and easier maintenance. We'd rather go diving. Hey we have priorities! Happy New Year and check back often for new content. Lars Dennert

January Raffle Winners!

Congrats to our January club meeting raffle winners!  Great thanks goes out to our generous supporters: Sport Chalet, and Hollywood Divers.

$50 Sport Chalet gift card: Teresa Hokanson
Hollywood Diver T-shirt: Kaz
Hollywood Diver T-shirt: Christina
Underwater magnifier: Teresa Hokanson
Mesh bag: Jimmy Q.
Signal mirror: Bromley
Tank light: Christina
Pelican micro case: Michelle
Lobster gloves: Jorge
Mesh bag: David Hokanson

Happy Holidays from the Sole Searchers Dive Club

Annual Sole Searchers Dive Club Holiday Party!

Yet again it's been a fantastic year of diving and making new friends, so come celebrate the holidays at our annual Sole Searchers Dive Clubʼs holiday party! Last year we catered food from Raffi's Place in Glendale, which was a hit, so we're doing it again.

DECEMBER 21, 2013. 6:30 PM. At Finʼs house 

Cost $10. 

There will be Middle Eastern food (Kabobs, etc).  B.Y.O.B ;-) 

Please R.S.V.P. to Sheree at (626) 644-2099 or sheree.l.lahey@gmail.com 

This year someone lucky will win a certificate for a two-for-one CIDA day boat charter. That's some good savings for you and your buddy! In addition Ken has donated a certificate for one day of free Nitrox on a CIDA boat trip (When Nitrox is available onboard). Check out CIDA (Channel Island Dive Adventure) for list of boat dives to apply the certificates, and ask Ken if you have any questions. Great thanks goes out to Ken Kollowitz and CIDA.

November Raffle Winners!

Congrats to our November club meeting raffle winners!  Great thanks goes out to our generous supporters: Sport Chalet, and Hollywood Divers.

$50 Sport Chalet gift card: Jonathan Blake
Signal tube: Bob James
Mouse Pad: David
Beach dive book: Andrew Lim
Slap Strap: Mark Hirami
O-ring kit: Michael Baudanza
Zipper lubricant: Mark Hirami
Knife strap: Andrew Lim
Dry pouch: Jonathan Blake
T-shirt: Jonathan Blake
T-shirt: Laura H. Steckler