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South Florida Divers, Inc.
July 2007 Newsletter
President's Message
Summer is here........
~ By Pete Stephinson
Summer is here ..... how can I tell ? Because as I write this the first of our summer trips is in progress. My phone is quiet as twenty something of our fellow club members are enjoying the under water, and I'm sure above water attractions of Cayman Brac. I'm sure someone will post some photos elsewhere in this edition of the newsletter. Another twenty of us have our turn next month when we go to Turks & Caicos, and a further group go to the Exumas in September. We have an action packed summer with dives and events planned. I'm looking forward to the "Three Tank Special" in early July, and the Bahamas weekend trip in September. Of course we have social events, The "Members Appreciation" day and the annual Seafood Festival, when we will crown our first ever "Lobster King". For the lobster hunting aficionados, we have mini-season on July 25th and 26th, and the season proper starts on August 6th - good hunting. South Florida Divers has a long tradition of being concerned about conserving our underwater environment. It was therefore with concern that I read recently of the request by the city of Lake Worth for approval to discharge wastewater into the ocean near Horseshoe Reef. This is a beautiful reef that we have visited on numerous occasions on club dives from Lantana. We have seen the impact of man's actions on the reefs off Broward - it would be sad to see the deterioration of these reefs further north. To learn more about this, and how to make your voice heard check out the Palm Beach County Reef Rescue website at http://www.reef-rescue.org/LakeWorthOutfall_01.shtml. 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 sometime soon. Have fun and enjoy the summer diving Pete email: President@SFDI.com |
MEETING LOCATION
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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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WELCOME YOUR NEWEST DIVE BUDDIES!
We are delighted to welcome new members Lynne and Ray Schreiber !! 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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July 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.
Special Note for July : Due to the July 4th. Holiday, the Executive Board meeting will be held on Monday, July 9 and the Regular Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 11th. Please mark your calendars accordingly.
June 30: 8:00 AM Show 8:30 AM Go (Saturday) Don't be partying too much Friday night because Gerry Cowen has us jumping into the water again, but on a new boat! Join him aboard the Blue Runner leaving from Dania Sea Fare. The boat will go where we want so this promises to be a great morning of diving and cameraderie for only $45.00, tax and tip included. www.coastalmarinediving.com or call Gerry for more details. July 7: 1:00 PM Show 1:30 PM Go (Saturday) Three Tank Special!! Bill Dietz is leading a special afternoon for us aboard the American Dream II. This would be a great chance to do a final equipment check for all those heading off to the Turks and Caicos. The plan is to do the Captain Dan followed by two reefs as we move south from what is arguably the best wreck dive on our coast. All this for the bargain price of $65.00, tax and tip included. Call Bill for more information and be sure to sign on as quickly as possible as space will be limited. For directions go to www.scubafortlauderdale.com July 9: 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. July 11: General Meeting 7:30 PM (Sharp!) Ft. Lauderdale Power Squadron, 2029 SW 20th. Street, Ft. Lauderdale 33315. [driving directions here] www.flpowersquadron.org/ July 13: Over-the-Hill and Off-the-Stern (Thursday) 1:00 PM Show 2:00 PM Go Okay, it may be a weekday, but you gotta love those near-empty boats. We'll be going aboard the Lady-Go-Diver out of Deerfield Beach and the sites have yet to be selected. Cost will be $50.00, tax and tip included. Call Dave or Elaine Schneider for more details, or go to www.dixiedivers.com July 14 - 21: Turks & Caicos Trip A great spot for those who love walls and/or the Bahamas, plus the fun and variety of Club Med social life. It may be too late to sign onto this one, but Fred may still have room for the Exumas Liveaboard in September. July 18: Dinner-at-Large (Wednesday) While many of our Club are in the Turks, Julie Taylor will be the maitre'd for those of us stuck in South Florida at Briney's Irish Pub, Atlantic Avenue in Pompano Beach. Should be a fun night for all with the dinner bell ringing at 7:30. I don't see a website for the pub so you will have to call Julie if you want more information. July 25 - 26: They're Back!! And it's Mini Season, so get out there and good hunting! July 28 : Member Appreciation Day (Saturday) Steve and Rita haven't finalized the details yet, but this was such a popular event last year that we have planned to do an encore this year. We will let you know more as the details become available. August 1: General Meeting 7:30 PM (Sharp!) Ft. Lauderdale Power Squadron, 2029 SW 20th. Street, Ft. Lauderdale 33315. [driving directions here] www.flpowersquadron.org/ August 4: 1:00 PM Show 1:30 PM Go (Saturday) Join Dave Schneider aboard the Lady-Go-Diver out of Deerfield Beach for a great afternoon of reef drift diving in lower Palm Beach County. The total cost is $50.00, tax and tip included. And be sure to leave some time in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant. Call Dave for more details or go to www.dixiedivers.com August 6: 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. 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 22: Dinner-at-Large (Wednesday) Donna Eades is our hostess as we journey to the newly opened 1917 Seafood House, conveniently located at, you guessed it, 1917 Hollywood Boulevard. The food is rumored to be excellent so be sure to be there when Donna rings the dinner bell at 7:30. 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 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 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 Fraulein 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: 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. 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 !! Photos by Capt. Chris
Kim says "I See Nothing !", Bruce says I'm not Saying Nothing ! "
Capt. Chris says " I Can't BELIEVE What I'm Not Hearing !!! "
Turks & Caicos Trip
June 14-21,2007
We will be diving the Turk & Caicos Islands June 14-21 staying at Club Med(www.clubmed.com) an all-inclusive resort. The diving is great, and there are also facilities for other water and land sports such as wind surfing, sailing and tennis which are included in the price. There is also a full program of entertainment and social activities. You will want to come home for a vacation after this trip !! - checkout the photo's in Julie Taylor's Turks & Caicos Gallery to get an idea of what the diving is like.
July Meeting Program
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.
July 2007 Safety Minute
Inner ear barotrauma. This condition may occur if you have trouble clearing (equilizing the pressure between the middle ear and the water-- sometimes called "popping your ears") during a dive. The result is severe dizziness and hearing loss.
Pulmonary barotrauma. This condition is the result of improper breathing during the ascent to the surface or, occasionally, from diving with a respiratory tract infection. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and hoarseness.
Arterial gas embolism (AGE). This is a type of barotrauma in which bubbles enter the blood stream and travel to the brain. Symptoms such as numbness or tingling of the skin, weakness, paralysis or loss of consciousness may occur. This is a serious diving injury.
Decompression sickness ("the bends"). This condition occurs during ascent and on the surface of the water. Nitrogen gas that is stored in body tissues and blood comes out of solution and forms bubbles in the blood. The bubbles can injure various body tissues and block blood vessels. The most common signs of severe decompression sickness are dysfunction of the spinal cord, brain and lungs.
Remember: If you should develop any of the symptoms on this list
during or after a dive, seek medical care immediately.
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.
JUNE DINNER AT LARGE Pics
On June 13, Julie Taylor lead us back to Marino's Italian Restaurant .
Looks like Everyone had fun !!
Photos by Peter Stephinson
July Dinner-at Large
While many of our Club are in the Turks, those less fortunate of us get to go to Briney's Irish Pub, Atlantic Avenue in Pompano Beach. Should be a fun night for all.
Click Here for John Beal's Palau Video
Also Please Visit Sanda Hoffer's Website at
Trivia Question
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What is a "mermaid's purse" ?
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TRIVIA QUESTION ANSWER
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Summer 2007 - 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.
June 17-21st 2007 Cayman Brac. We Had a GREAT Time !!!
September 1-8th Exumas Liveaboard. A Bahamas dive trip aboard the luxurious AquaCat Catamaran ( www.aquacatcruises.com ). We will cruise the Exumas for the best in pristine Bahamas diving.... reef, wall, wreck, drift and Blue Hole dives. In addition to diving, snorkeling, kayaking and island exploration are available. Estimated cost $2200 all inclusive includes air, and tips. Trip organizer Fred Miller.
July 14-21st Turks & Caicos. Turks is known for it's spectacular wall diving. To satisfy recently acquired tastes for white chocolate bread we will be staying at the Club Med Turkoise ( www.clubmed.com ) The estimated cost is $1900 including air, lodging, transfers, travel insurance, drinks and diving. Trip Organizer Pete Stephinson.
South Florida Divers Club
By Brian Hufford
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Happy July Birthday!
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Where's Kansman ??
Please release him !!
Lots of Laughs and other WISDOM
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
