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South Florida Divers,
Inc.
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New Year's Resolution ?
~ By Pete Stephinson
Our Calendar also included the usual Pig Roast, Sea Food Fest, and Holiday party. We had 88 people at the holiday party. You can see some of them having a good time in the photos elsewhere on the site. Many thanks to John Kansman, Joe Smariga and all the other members who pitched in to make this event our social highlight of the year. We were pleased to welcome numerous new members during the year, many of whom have become regulars on Club dives and are becoming actively involved in club activities. All in all I think you have to agree that 2005 was a good year for the club. So what about 2006? My objective, as the incoming President is more of the same - only better. Most of the e-board members have returned for another year, and we are pleased to welcome new e-board members Nansy McKenzie and Stefan Trestyn. The job of the E-Board is to manage the affairs of the Club and to organize/coordinate these events for the enjoyment of all the members. We have scheduled dives for January (for those of you not too thermally-challenged) and will be working to build a full calendar for the rest of the year with a wide variety of dives and other activities. We have 2 overseas trips planned, to Belize and to San Salvador(Bahamas). If you haven't signed up for one yet there is still space on the Belize trip - have a chat with Ski. But the E-Board alone can't run all the Club activities. If you can't think of a New Year's resolution, I have one for you. Why not resolve to run a dive or an event for the club. The Club is like any activity, the more you put in to it the more you get in return. If you have an idea for a dive or an event, have a chat about it to Dave Schneider, our new VP Calendar. Or better still, come along to an e-board meeting and share it with the rest of us. All suggestions are very welcome. I would also like to hear any of your comments about the Club and our activities, and your ideas as to what we can do, or organize to make the Club even better. I will be at most Club meetings or you can email me at president@sfdi.com. Lastly, it is that time of the year again. The time to renew your Club membership. Club Meetings are open to visitors however to join us on a dive you must be a member. Bring your C card and DAN card to the January meeting and sign up for 2006. See you in the water some time soon Pete |
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WELCOME YOUR NEWEST DIVE BUDDIES! We are delighted to welcome
new members
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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Jan. 1 :
HAPPY
NEW
YEAR
!!
Your 2006 E-Board wishes all our members and friends a happy,
healthy and safe diving new year. Jan. 4 :
General
Meeting:
Ramada Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport,
2275 State
Road 84.
[Driving
directions here] [Map
here] . 7:00 Show 7:30 Sharp,Go Start
the New Year out on the right
foot
and enjoy
a social drink with your dive buddies before the meeting which
starts promptly at 7:30PM. The
highlight of the evening will be our annual Gift Exchange, so
bring along that gift that wasn't really on your holiday wish list and
join the fun.
NOTE: additional
parking on west side of Ramada. Jan.
9 : SFDI
Executive Board Meeting
at Connections
for Business,
2843 Pembroke Road, NE corner of I-95 and Pembroke Road.
All members are encouraged to join us. Jan.
14 : 1:00
Show 1:30 Go Join
Pete and Dave as we start the new years diving schedule on the Lady
Go Diver out of Deerfield Beach. Everyone who joined us
on The Lady last year will remember good times and
quality diving. Dive sites have not been chosen as yet but will
be in the 60-80 foot range. Advanced certification not required
but suggested. And be sure to save some time after the dives for
some food and drink at The Cove restaurant. Dives,
$48.00 tip included
Directions at www.dixiediver.com Jan. 15 :
8:00 Show 8:30 Go Join
Dave Wills on Recycled for a private Boat dive from John
U Lloyd State Park. You will be waving to Dave from the dock if you're
not on board by 8:30AM. For more information about the day, see below.
Directions to the park can be found at www.floridastateparks.org/lloydbeach/default.asp Jan.
16 : Martin Luther Day Remembrance Jan.
19 : Dinner
at Large
Join Julie Taylor and friends for some outstanding Indian food at the Royal
India. Seating will be at 7:30. Alcoholic beverage
limited to beer and wine. The Royal India is located at 3801
Griffin Road, Ft. Lauderdale. They can be reached at
954-964-0071. Jan.21
: 8:30
Show 9:00 Go They
may not be "Jaws", but they're big and beautiful and they
should be back!
It's
January and the Lemon Sharks should be migrating. Join
Jan. 28 : Oleta River State Park Outing Another fun filled day at the park has been planned by Dave Wills so put on a smile and join the group. Come around 11:00 AM. Details below. April : Pig Roast !! Same time, same place.. date to be announced. June 10 - 17 : Belize !! A great chance to see one of the world's premiere dive areas! Ski and Michelle will be hosting the trip to Belize. Accommodations will be at either the Villas at Banyan Bay or Aqua Marina Suites. Cost is to be $1500.00. For further information call Ski directly. June 17 -24 : San Salvador !! Out of the country and into the warm blue Caribbean with Pete Stephinson. September: Seafood Festival !! Same time, same place.. date to be announced. December
: Annual
Holiday Party
!!
Same
time, same place.. date to be announced.
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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. |
On January 4 we will have our forth annual
"Wacky Re-Gift Exchange" at the general meeting. We are sure you
got a Hanukah or Christmas or or Kwanzaa or holiday or birthday gift that made
you say "thanks, but you really shouldn't have."
Wrap it up and bring it to the January 4 meeting and see if you can get
something better!
Here's how it works. Bring along an unused, unwanted gift...look around, you know you have at least one somewhere...and wrap it real purty-like. Everyone who brings a gift gets a raffle ticket.
We
will draw the tickets in "Chinese Auction" style. The first
person whose ticket is pulled gets the pick of the unopened gifts, and must open
it in front of everyone. The second person whose ticket is pulled can take
the first person's gift away from them, or choose another unopened gift.
If they take the gift from the first person, the first person gets to go back
and pick and open another gift. The third person whose ticket is pulled
can pick a third unopened gift, or take a gift away from the first or second
person, and so forth.
Yes, it takes awhile to go through all the gifts and you will not want to miss the fun. This is the most hilarious event of the year. Actually, the majority of the gifts are nice items, just unwanted by the original recipient. Surprisingly, at the end of the evening, nearly every unwanted gift goes home with someone who actually wants it. See you January 7, gift in hand! You are not required to participate, but if you don't, you'll probably regret it!
Your 2006 E-Board
| Position | Elected for 2005 |
| President | Pete Stephinson |
| Past President | Cheryl Tuegels |
| Past President | Jeff Guzowski |
| Past President | John Kansman |
| VP of Membership | Joe Smariga |
| Membership Assistant | Melissa Ames |
| VP of Calendar | Dave Schneider |
| Calendar Assistant | Mike Rand |
| VP of Programs | Adelle Nicholson |
| Secretary | Donna Eades |
| Treasurer | Bill Dietz |
| Treasurer Assistant | Kim Hunziker |
| Web Divemaster | Chris Hinckley |
| Newsletter Editor | Marjory Meechan |
| Sargeant-At-Arms | Tina Schneider |
| Member-At-Large | OPEN |
| Member-At -Large | Brian Hufford |
| Member-At Large | Fred Miller |
| Member-At-Large | OPEN |
| Member-At-Large | OPEN |
| Member-At-Large | OPEN |
Royal India
Join Julie Taylor and friends for some outstanding Indian food at the Royal India. Seating will be at 7:30. Alcoholic beverage limited to beer and wine. The Royal India is located at 3801 Griffin Road, Ft. Lauderdale. They can be reached at 954-964-0071.
A Monthly Feature by Brian Hufford
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.
Boat Safety - Part 1
2005 HOLIDAY PARTY PICS
A Good Time Was Had By ALL !!
Photos by Capt.Chris Hinckley
Click Here For More Holiday Party Pics
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Submitted by Marjory Meechan
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On Sunday, December 11th, CBS's 60 Minutes broadcast an interesting story about shark diving and the ongoing debates as to whether or not it is alright to feed sharks just to entertain divers. 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon showed everyone what it is like to be inside a cage while a hungry shark lurks outside. As these pictures from Sandra Soler show, participating in a shark dive is a thrilling experience with or without the cage. In case anyone is unaware, in 2001, the practice of feeding sharks to attract them for divers was made illegal in Florida and Hawaii. Not everyone agreed with the decision. In the end, it only made it more difficult for Florida divers and dive operators to participate; not impossible. Shark feeding is still legal just across the water in the Bahamas with both Bahamian and Florida dive operations taking part. The 60 Minutes report raised some interesting points. Almost all of the debate centers around whether or not this can cause sharks to become harmful to humans. Nobody seems to be worried about whether it might not be good for the sharks. The footage showing harvesting shark fins for soup was particularly disturbing. It is clear that we are definitely more dangerous to the sharks than they are to us whether we feed them or not. |
The History Channel's Deep Sea Detectives John
Chatterton (left) Our Own Debby Bradford (center) and Richie Kohler
(right) at Main Library at the
Bluewater Adventure event !
On December 18,2005, SFDI Members Enjoyed Our Annual Holiday Cruise Aboard The American Dream II
Pictures by Dave Schneider
Click Here for More Holiday Cruise Pics
San Salvador, Bahamas
June 17th-24th, 2006
The SFDI group that just returned from the Turks & Caicos Islands had such a great time that a number of them decided to do a similar trip in 2006. Check out the photos in this month's Newsletter and on the site to see what great diving they enjoyed, and the fun times which they had on land. On returning, Pete Stephinson, trip organizer checked out the prices and availability and secured an even better deal for 2006 at the Club Med Columbus Isle on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas.
"What San Sal offers divers is vertical walls, populated shallow
reefs ideal for macro photography, groupers so friendly they will lay in
your arms and the ever-present chance of spotting big creatures, such as
Hammerhead Sharks and Manta Rays. San Sal was one of the very first
destinations to develop wall diving and this is still the reason most
divers visit. The south and western sides of the island are lined by one
of the most impressive walls in The Bahamas, starting as shallow as 40
feet and dropping to thousands of feet. "
For more info visit http://www.about-the-bahamas.com/bahamas/sansalvador.cfm
The cost for the trip includes:
We have over 20 people signed up. Don't miss out, if you want to sign up you are recommended to do so at the September Meeting. A $200 deposit is required to confirm your place. Payments will be accepted monthly with full payment due by April 2006.
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Check The Weather
Check the weather from Joe Smariga's
Weather Station. Thanks Joe !!
Click Here www.sfdi.com/wx.htm
LOTS OF LAUGHS and Other Wisdom
