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South Florida Divers, Inc. 


August 2007 Newsletter

CONTENTS
President's Message Come Join The Fun !

 MEETING LOCATION
Calendar for August and Beyond August Meeting Program
A Safety Minute August Dinner at Large
America's Boating Course Trivia Question
Where's Kansman Happy August Birthday
Lots of Laughs and Other Wisdom Summer 2008 Overseas Trips
FAQ'S   John Beal's Palau Video
Global Shark Census Joanie Tomlins Galapagos Trip

 

                                        

                                                                    

President's Message

The water's warm..........

 

 

~ By Pete Stephinson

Well July is not yet half over and I've already done a ton of diving and have lot's more planned. I'm writing my message early this month as I'm heading off with 19 fellow club members for a week on the Turks & Caicos Islands. So I've got a ton more diving in the week ahead. I must say, a week away diving with a club group is a highlight of the summer and I'm really looking forward to getting away from it all.

The first week we get back, it's mini-season - so bugs - watch out here we come. This year the ladies are getting their revenge on us guys by hosting the "Lobster King" competition. They competed hard last year for the honor of being crowned "Lobster Queen", so it's payback time. Guys -- we have to show the ladies we have the same sort of dedication and hunting prowess they showed us last year. It's man against lobster.

While I am on the subject of lobstering -- remember that no lobster, no matter how big, is worth your life. It's an unfortunate fact that every year a number of divers get into difficulties while lobstering, sometimes with tragic results. Remember the basics, keep your wits about you and you will be fine. 

Summer is going to be very busy -- if you like diving and social activities that is. We have a lot of dives organized, as well as our second annual "members appreciation" day and annual Sea Food Fest.

At the July General Meeting we conducted a survey of interest in potential trips for the summer of 2008. I expect the final locations and details will be announced fairly shortly. Once again we are planning multiple trips to give members the choice of destinations - or in fact the opportunity to go on more than one trip. 

Ok -- there's lots happening this summer with events both above and below the water. I hope to see you at one or more of these events sometime soon.

Have fun and enjoy the summer diving

Pete

email: President@SFDI.com

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 MEETING LOCATION

 

 

How to find the Fort Lauderdale Power Squadron

 

The Fort Lauderdale Power Squadron is located in the Lauderdale Marine Center at:

2029 SW 20th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL

 

 

 

 

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SFDI meetings are the first Wednesday of each month at the

Fort Lauderdale Power Boat Squadron. The meeting starts at 7:30   If you are not a member, and you are reading this on the Internet, please join us because visitors are ALWAYS WELCOME!

In an attempt to condense the length of the meetings, we are going to start the meeting PROMPTLY at 7:30. Please come earlier to socialize before the meeting starts.

 

 

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         WELCOME YOUR NEWEST DIVE BUDDIES!

 

We are delighted to welcome new members Bill Kirby, Tracy Scaletti,

Tammi Ostrofsky, Victor Raczka and Carmine Genovese  !!

   We look forward to diving with you. 

         As a Reminder to Everyone, We are a NO-DECO Dive Club.        Always adhere to Safe Recreational Dive Depths and Limits.

 

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August 2007 Calendar.. and Beyond

                                                       

                                                         - By Dave Schneider, Vice President, Calendar

 

        Phone numbers of event coordinators are not posted to ensure privacy.  If you are a Club member please consult your Buddy List for the number you need.  If you do not have a copy of the Buddy List one will be available for you at the next General Meeting.

        Just a quick reminder.. The Calendar exists for the information of all our members.  Should you see an event that is of interest to you please contact the Coordinator directly.  You can sign-up for the event(s) of your choice at any time of the month. The Coordinator will be more than pleased to place your name on the list and tell you where to mail payment.

        HELP MAKE YOUR CLUB BETTER ! ....  We need more people to step up and run events.  If you are interested in coordinating a dive.. a trip.. a dinner or any other type of event please contact an E-Board member. Any member of the Board will be more than happy to advise and assist your efforts.

 

August 15:  1:00 PM Show  1:30 Go (Wednesday)  Here's a chance to enjoy a mid-week dive on the Starfish Enterprise out of Lantana as we explore the reefs off Boynton Beach and Palm Beach County.  The fish promise to be swarming and there may even be an extra surprise.  Total cost will be $50.00.  And be sure to have a few extra bucks on hand for a brew and some vittles at the Old Key Lime House immediately after. For more info call Dave Schneider or go to www.idivestarfish.com 

August 17 - 19:  Annual Keys Weekend  Jeff Raffa and Ginny DeMattei did such a great job last year that we have coerced them into organizing this years event.  As always, this is a highlight of our calendar and a weekend you won't want to miss.  Details will be forthcoming.

August 25:  8:00 AM Show  8:30 Go Private Boat Dive John Kansman hopes to lead a small flotilla of boats out to sea for a day of diving in spots not frequented by charter boats.  The boats will be leaving promptly from John U. Lloyd State Park in Dania so be sure to be on time.  Always a fun day, see or speak to John if you need more information.

September 1 - 8:  Exumas Liveaboard   Fred Miller is leading a group to the Exumas in the Bahamas on this last of our currently scheduled overseas week-long trips. This promises to be a great event aboard an excellent Liveaboard, so contact Fred for more details  and to check availability.`

September 2:  Wine Tasting  Susan Judah and Ray Gonzalez have offered to hold a wine tasting at their home.  This was a Calendar highlight that disappeared but is back for all to enjoy.  All you need bring is a bottle of wine and an appetizer for all to share.  Non-winos are invited to bring the beverage of their choice. The festivities will run from 5 PM to 9:00 PM.... or later?  Call Ray or Susan for more details, address and directions.

September 5:   General Meeting  7:30 PM (Sharp!) Ft. Lauderdale Power Squadron, 2029 SW 20th. Street, Ft. Lauderdale 33315.   [driving directions here]  www.flpowersquadron.org/

September 9:   8:00 AM Show  8:30 AM Go (Sunday) Pete Stephinson plans to have the perfect Sunday dive lined up for us... the Biscayne Wall in Biscayne National Park!  And after a couple of great dives we'll go to a local Homestead restaurant for some Mexican food.  We need 20 divers for this one so the cost of $50.00 tanks, tax and tip included can be held.  You must confirm and pay at the August meeting latest  to be a part of the group. Because of the required number of people there will be no refunds.  Call Pete for more information.

September 10:  SFDI Executive Board Meeting at Connections for Business, 2843 Pembroke Road, NE corner of I-95 and Pembroke Road.  The meeting starts promptly at 7:30.  We encourage any and all members to attend and assist in making your Club even better than it is.

September 14 - 16:  Bahamas Weekend  Jeff and Ginny are back again to encore their successful Keys Weekend outing with a short trip to the Bahamas.  This was a great time last year and promises to be even better this year, so mark your calendars and send your money in to reserve a spot. Space will be limited.  More details as available.

September 20:  Dinner-at-Large (Thursday) The setting moves north to Delray Beach as Frau Elaine hopes to entice our membership to a hearty meal at the Vienna Bierhaus, 660 Linton Boulevard.  The food is good, the beer and wine plentiful so be on hand when Elaine rings the dinner bell at 7:30. For details call Elaine Schneider or go to www.OldViennaMenu.com 

September 22: 1:00 PM Show  1:30 Go (Saturday)  We're planning a wreck (Sea Emperor"?) and a reef for a super Saturday of diving off Boca Raton.  Who knows, maybe a whale shark will show-up?? The cost for the afternoon aboard the Lady-Go-Diver will be $50.00.  Call Dave Schneider for details or for directions go to www.dixiedivers.com 

September 29:  8:30 AM Show  9:00 AM Go (Saturday)  Gerry Cowen steps up once again and beckons us aboard the Blue Runner out of Dania SeaFare.  This is your perfect chance to do some top notch diving and catch your dinner for Seafood Fest.  Call Gerry for details or go to www.coastalmarine.com . 

September 29:  Seafood Fest!   A little later than usual due to our crowded calendar, but sure to be a great time regardless.  Be sure to be on hand to see the crowning of SFDI's first ever "Lobster King".  Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club, 2637 Whale Harbor Lane, Ft. Lauderdale [Map here]  More details later on. 

October 27:  Fantasy Fest  Pete Stephinson is planning to get a whole bunch of us onto a chartered bus and speed on down to Key West for the annual Fantasy Fest gala.  No need to worry about the long drive, high priced hotel rooms or keeping tabs on how much you drink. Should be one heck of a party! More details when they become available.

AND ONE LAST IMPORTANT NOTE;  The newly revised and approved SFDI Policies and Procedures are available for everyone to read and fully understand. The Club policy regarding members' cancellation from dives/events they have signed on for and their rights to refunds is clear.  Once a member signs on for a dive/event he or she is obligated to pay for that dive/event unless they contact the coordinator for that dive/event and cancel by the specified cancellation time.  Further, members are required to pay for the dive/event at the time they sign up or indicate their desire to participate in that dive/event. Not paying immediately does not eliminate the requirement to make full payment if you do not cancel within the designated cancellation period or simply fail to show up for that dive/event. If there are any questions please read your copy of SFDI Policies and Procedures or speak to any Executive Board member.

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Cayman Brac

June 17-21st 2007

 

                               We're Back !!  

 

Click Here for Bruce Wills Cayman Brac Pics      

 

Click Here for Capt. Chris Cayman Brac Photos

 

        

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A SAFETY MINUTE

                                                               

 

Diving is all about safety. After all, the equipment we wear is designed to let us humans go safely into an environment that we otherwise could only stay in for maybe a minute (or seven minutes if you’re a trained free diver).  Following good, safe diving practices and having the right safety gear makes our diving experiences that much more enjoyable.

 

            August 2007 Safety Minute 

                           by Kim Hunziker                         

 

  • Everybody SAFE but the Lobster”

     

    Lobster Mini-Season is upon us again July 26th and 27th, and many in the Club will be “bugging”.  But along with getting a license, keep some safety tips from the Coast Guard and Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission in mind …..

    While our club promotes safety, and the majority of members are very experienced divers, the biggest danger is the other boat or diver that is “rusty” or just not thinking.

    So pay attention, be alert to your surroundings, properly display a diver-down flags and file a float plan (boaters).

    Make sure all dive equipment has been checked and maintained, particularly if this is your first dive since last year.

    No one should drink and then attempt to drive a boat or dive.

    Before leaving the dock, always check the weather and sea conditions.

    All divers should be certified, and if you are diving with someone new, ask how may dives they have and when the last one was.  

    Also ask if there are any health concerns, since some deaths last year were due to medical conditions.   Know the signs of exhaustion, hyperthermia and dehydration.

    Everyone should dive with a buddy, and you should never lose visual contact with your buddy.   Plan your dive and dive your plan.

    And finally, getting that last “bug” isn’t worth the risk of running out of air.

     

    DON’T LET THE “ONE THAT GOT AWAY” BE  YOU OR YOUR BUDDY.

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    America's Boating Course

     

    Hey, we all spend a lot of time on boats. Why not take advantage of the Fort Lauderdale Power Squadron's "America's Boating Course" (ABC) to improve your knowledge of boating skills and safe boating practices. The course is run monthly at no charge. Details can be found at http://www.usps.org/e_stuff/ABC.html. The course is held on the first Monday of every month from 7-9PM and concludes the following Saturday from 9 til 2PM.(lunch provided).  Each person who completes the course receives an ABC text book, an informative CD and a certificate of completion which may help in reducing insurance rates for boat owners. If you are interested in signing up, or finding out more, email the Power Squadron at ABCCourse@aol.com including your name and contact information.

     

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       August Dinner-at Large

    TBA

     

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    Click Here for John Beal's Palau Video

     

    Also Please Visit Sanda Hoffer's Website at

     

     www.submergedencounters.com

     

    Check Out Capt. Chris' Swimming with the Tarpon Video

    In Cayman Brac. CLICK HERE !

     

     

     

     

     

    On the Forth of July, Chris and Stan Pierce

    Had a Manta Ray Sighting

      The most spectacular thing was sighting the manta ray on our second dive near the Copenhagen in only 20 feet of water.  This is the first time we have ever seen a manta ray in Florida.

     

     

     

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     Trivia Question             

     

     
    Why do things appear to change colour underwater

    as you descend from the surface to 25-30 metres?

     

    TRIVIA QUESTION ANSWER

     

    Water filters out the longer wavelengths of light (red - yellow) more readily than the shorter wavelengths (blue - violet) so that everything appears more blueish at depth

     

     

    Now You Know...

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    A Feature by Linda Sandel

     

    Fish Trivia:

     

    I am venomous and can deliver electric shocks and although I’m rare in Florida, I did have my picture taken by a SFDI member.  What am I?

     

    Northern Stargazer

    The stargazers are 8”-18” fish found in depths of 6’-120’with eyes on top of their heads and a large upward-facing mouth in a large head. They bury themselves in sand by vibrating their bodies and leap upwards to ambush prey that pass overhead. Stargazers are venomous and have two large poison spines and can also deliver electric shock from the area behind their eyes.  Uncommon east coast of Florida north to New York.  Not reported in the balance of Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean.

     

     

    Photos by Eric Rohde

     

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    Click Here for Joanie Tomlins Galapagos Trip Report

     

     

     

     

     

    Summer 2008 - Overseas Trips.

     

    The following trips were selected based on input by the membership. The dates have been set so that you can plan to go on more than one trip. The price estimates below are based on the best information we have at the current time and may change. In particular airline prices are not published yet.  We need deposits to lock in the reservations we are currently holding  at the current prices. There are still a few openings on each trip. If you are signed up for a trip and not up to date on your payment, you could loose your spot. So please stay current with the payment schedule.

     

    Roatan...June 15-22nd 2008  ....Fantasy Island Beach Resort...Visit www.fantasyislandresort.com

     

    Dominica... July 12th- July 19th, 2008 with accommodation at Castle Comfort Hotel.

    This is a small dive hotel - you can check it out - and see some photos, both above and below water at:http://www.divedominica.com/

    Cozumel...May 31-June 7,2008  Staying at Iberostar, an ALL Inclusive similar to a Club Med. See http://www.iberostar.com/.

     

     

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    South Florida Divers Club

      Frequently Asked Questions  

    By Brian Hufford

      What kind of club is South Florida Divers?  We are a dive and social club.  We have diving and social events almost every week.  There’s more diving in the warmer months, but we have trips every month of the year.

      What about social events?  We enjoy get togethers such as beach picnics, dinner on the town, bike rides, Holiday boat cruises, things like that.  We also have three parties each year: a pig roast in the spring, a seafood party in September and a holiday party in early December.  We usually have 80+ people in attendance; they’re always a great time. 

      Where do you dive?  Most of our diving is in the Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach area, where we do boats and shore diving.  We get down to the Keys several times each year, and we also do two or three out of country trips.  This past year we had trips to Turks and Caicos, Bimini, and Papua New Guinea.

      What about club meetings?  We have a monthly meeting, the first Wednesday of the month, at the Fort Lauderdale Power Squadron.  The meeting starts with a 30 minute social from 7:00 to 7:30 then the business section from 7:30 til 8:00, a short break, then the program or speaker.  We’ve had some very interesting speakers this past year, covering everything from the CSS Hunly to updates on important ocean environment issues.

      How does the club organize all these events?  South Florida Divers is a volunteer organization, so it’s a club member that does each event.  Each event, social or diving, has a trip leader and a sign-up sheet.  We go over the calendar at each club meeting, plus, it’s in another section of this website. The sign-up sheet has the details about the trip, location, time, cost {if any}, trip leader.  We have a table set up with the sign-up sheets and a table for the treasury if funds are required.

      What about membership?  Membership dues cover each calendar year and are $55 for individual and $65 for family.  There is a one time set-up fee of $5.  We ask that you be a member before participating in club events [other than the club meetings]. 

      What do I need to do to join?  We have three requirements: You are a certified diver, you have and maintain diver insurance, and you pay your dues.   You can join at any club meeting, the membership table is just inside the door, or you can mail in the application.    

      What’s the best way to get involved in the club?  Become a member and join in the fun and events.  Members are always welcome to help with club work, lead a trip, organize a beach picnic, or participate on the board.  

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    HAPPY BIRTHDAY
    to our August Birthday Celebrants!
    John Beals Nansy Mackenzie Bob Booth
    Jeff Guzowski Gerry Cowen Tara Sands
    Glenn Orihood Hank Guardino Scott Prinos
    Dave Wills Pat Kahl Karen Altman
    Sam Rich Glen Orihood  Jeffery Rafffa
    David Watts Allison Scheflow William Kirby
    Eddie Lim   Victor Raczka

     

     

     

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    Click Here to Take Part in the Global Shark Censes

     

    Where's Kansman ??

     

     

    Please release him  !!

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Lots of Laughs and other WISDOM

     

     

    The Pauli exclusion principle

    The Pauli exclusion principle was postulated in an attempt to explain some of the properties of electrons in an atom. This principle says :



    In a closed system no two electrons can occupy the same space .
     

     

     

     

    The way I see it, if you want the rainbow,

    you gotta put up with the rain.
     

     

    Dolly Parton

     

     

     

     

    The Wet Zone

    South Florida Divers, Inc.,
    Copyright 200    7

     

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