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South Florida Divers, Inc.
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This month we have quite a few things on the calendar, starting out with A Day at the Zoo with Cheryl and Lou. Cheryl and Lou Teugels are running a Miami Metrozoo day on March 7 at noon, so pack up your mate and your kids (if you have any) to have an adventurous day at the zoo. For divers, we have three charter dives this month, two with American Dream and one with ScubaTyme. These are last chance dives to catch those elusive crustaceans. We also have 2 barbecues on the calendar. On March 13th, there will be one at Fort Lauderdale Beach, and on the 27th, there is a bike and barbecue at Birch State Park. The club has a trip to Ginnie Springs, on March 26-28, and I hear there is a big group going. I hope there will be someone taking pictures to put on the website for those of us that aren't able to go. Our annual Pig/Chicken Roast is set for Saturday, April 3rd, starting at 5:30 at Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club, so don't forget to mark your calendars for the pig out. And last but not least, a dive to look forward to, on April 1st, is an artifact dive on the USS Hunley. Dive safe,
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WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST DIVE BUDDY! We are delighted to welcome new member Joann Adams. We look forward to diving with you! |
 March
2004 Calendar and beyond
~ By Cheryl
Teugels, Vice President of Calendar
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TBA Join us on March 3 for our monthly general meeting. The March program has not yet been determined; check back daily until you see it posted. SFDI meetings start at 7:30 at the Ramada Fort Lauderdale Airport. If you are not a member, and you are reading this on the Internet, please join us because visitors are ALWAYS WELCOME! For driving directions to the meeting, visit our About Us page. |
Cool temperatures didn't stop this
crew from having a fun time at the January 10 picnic on Fort Lauderdale
beach. Join us March 13 when we'll try it again...hopefully with
higher temperatures!
Click
here for more picnic photos.
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The Florida Reef is the only barrier reef system in the continental U.S., and like other reefs, suffering tremendous decline. It is imperative to understand the causes of this decline, and find solutions to improve reef health. By helping protect Florida’s reef tract, which starts in Key Largo and extends south beyond Key West, drivers also help the state’s economy because more than 3 million people visit the reef each year at an estimated economic impact of $790 million. At least 50 coral species and more than 150 species of fish call the reefs home and the waters surrounding the reef account for more than 20 million pounds of commercially harvested seafood each year. The new “Protect Our Reefs” tag is now available at tax collector’s offices or authorized tag agencies statewide. You can ask for the plate when you renew your tag. The cost of the new tag is an additional $25 on the price of a standard plate, plus a $2 processing fee. The extra $25 goes to Mote Marine Laboratory, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science of the sea, which will then direct the proceeds from the sale of the plate to organizations dedicated to coral reef research, education and conservation efforts. Click here to see a larger picture of this beautiful tag. Wouldn't it look great on your vehicle? |
Michael C. Barnette is the Founder and Director of the Association of Underwater Explorers, a coalition of divers dedicated to the research, exploration, documentation, and preservation of submerged cultural resources (see website review below). Employed as a marine ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), he recently published Shipwrecks of the Sunshine State: Florida's Submerged History, a comprehensive book documenting the numerous shipwrecks around the state of Florida. Over the past 440 years, weather, war, and chance have claimed several thousand vessels off of Florida's shores. Many of these wrecks are visited by divers on a regular basis. Many more, await discovery by the dedicated, and properly equipped searcher. In an attempt to relate but a handful of the losses that have occurred, Shipwrecks of the Sunshine State chronicles the tales of over 150 of Florida's maritime casualties. Hundreds of archival vessel images, underwater photographs, site maps, and pictures of artifacts recovered from these wrecks help to illustrate the drama and the tragedy of these losses. Make no mistake, however, while only 150 of the stories are told surrounding some of these losses, this book contains GPS and LORAN coordinates to almost 1000 Florida shipwrecks. This book will soon become the “standard” for many divers, fishermen, and historians. If you plan to dive, fish, or research wrecks in the state of Florida - this should be the first book you buy. You can purchase it directly from Barnette, or buy an autographed copy by attending his FREE Florida shipwreck presentation on Thursday, March 4 at 7 PM, at Broward County Main Library in the 6th floor Bienes Center [map here]. R.S.V.P.: 954-357-7401 |
The Association of Underwater Explorers ~
Review by Debby Bradford Auchter
The AUE website is a treasure trove for shipwreck fans! Click on Shipwrecks to get to the gateway for information on shipwrecks of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and of course our own Florida Shipwrecks. Opening the Florida link leads you to a long list of Florida wrecks. Click on each wreck's name for a history of the wreck. Many of the wrecks' pages contain photographs before and/or after sinking and a site map. The Shipwrecks page also leads to information on the Grand Dame of the Sea, the Andrea Doria. Clicking on Video Clips leads you to an amazing short film of a dive on the Ultramarine, and Media Center lists several fascinating articles. There are also dozens of excellent Links. If you are fascinated by shipwrecks...and let's face it, who isn't...make yourself comfortable at your PC and visit AUE! |
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Members of South Florida Divers, Inc. are entitled to place free Classified Ads here! However, you must agree to have either your e-mail address, telephone number, or both published so that people can contact you. Members, to place your free ad, simply e-mail Debby with the details. Non-members, come to our next general meeting and join us! For Sale: Sea and Sea MotorMarine II 35mm underwater camera. It has all the lenses (16mm and 20mm, wide angle and macro) and comes with a ton of film, as well as a Pelican case. All manuals and instructional book included. $1500. DUI dry suit, Model 1200, dove twice, black and teal, seals cut for skinny neck and wrists, DUI undergarment, 2 pairs of rock boots, gloves, hood, fins, and insulated socks. $1500. Contact Doug LaPrade, 954-328-7461, 954-227-2139. |
We found Nemo... |
Calling
all creative types! After more than three years as your Web Divemaster,
Debby Bradford Auchter needs to call it quits due to increased career commitments.
She promises to do the best she can to complete 2004, but unless someone
steps up to the plate, SFDI.com will no longer be updated as of January
1, 2005. We're putting out an early call in order to give you several
months to learn how to assume the responsibilities. It's also about
time for a new, more modern look for the website, and new ideas are encouraged.
Please don't let your club website die, consider taking over this fun and
rewarding task! Speak with any E-Board member for more details.
Florida
drivers now have a new way to help save Florida’s – and the U.S.’s – only
extensive living barrier reef. It’s as simple as renewing or buying
a new license tag.
