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South Florida Divers, Inc. 


May 2008 Newsletter

CONTENTS
President's Message Come Join The Fun !

 MEETING LOCATION
Calendar for May and Beyond May Meeting Program
Camping 2008 Pics Pig Roast 2008 Pics
A Safety Minute FAQ'S  
Meeting Location FLASH Summer 2008 Overseas Trips
Lobster Law Changes Trivia Question
SFDI SHARE A BOOK April Dinner at Large Pics
Where's Kansman Happy May Birthday
Lots of Laughs and Other Wisdom Brians Corner
Ocean Fest 2008 May Dinner at Large

 

 

                                        

                                                                    

President's Message

Summer is here...almost........

~ By Pete Stephinson

I hope you were one of the many club members and friends who attended our annual Pig Roast last Saturday... because if you weren't, you missed a great time. Thanks To Joe, who spent the day tending the Pig, John who organized the logistics and a whole host of other people who pitched in and made this a really good time. You can see photos elsewhere in this newsletter. 

By the time this newsletter is published,  Oceanfest will have come and gone. I am sure that our participation will have helped make this event a success for both the organizers and for the club. Thank you to everybody who helped staff our booth and support the event. 

As we are now starting to get into the warmer months, we have a number of dives on the calendar. It won't be long and the ocean water  will be over 80 degrees. Take advantage of them and join us. Better yet, pick your favorite dive and we'll put it on the calendar for you to take a whole bunch of your SFDI buddies along to share the experience with.  Many of our members are also attending one (or more) of our 3 overseas trips this summer to Cozumel, Roatan and Dominica. Have fun everybody.

And now a dive story illustrating "luck" and skill at improvisation. Check this one out. We have a number of keen hunters in the club but I've yet to see one come back on the boat with anything like this catch. 

This month's meeting is a social meeting. We'll supply pizza - come along and spend the evening socializing with your fellow club members. We're making this one a swap meet so if you have any excess equipment you would like to divest yourself of, bring it along, it may be just what one of our other members is looking for.

Hope to see you in the water some time soon

Pete 

Pete 

 

 NEW MEETING LOCATION

 

New meeting Location for General Meeting starting Wednesday April 2nd:

 

American Legion Post 36

   1600 W State Road 84

 

 

Directions:

 

From I95 go East on State Road 84(Marina Mile)

The America Legion is on your right immediately before the lights on SW 15th

 

Easy way into Parking Lot:

 

Make a right at SW 15th, then take a right on the first street you come to, then go to the end of that street and make a right into the parking lot

 

 

 

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PLEASE SEE NOTE ABOVE !!

 

SFDI meetings are the first Wednesday of each month at the

American Legion Hall. 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

Mary Giovanini and Donna Kasmer!!

   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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  MAY 2008...   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.

April 26:  1:00 PM Show  1:30 PM Go (Saturday) Advanced forecasts are for flat seas, lots of warm sun and great vis, so plan to join Dave Schneider and the friendly fishes off Boca/Deerfield for an afternoon of excellent diving from off the stern of the Lady-Go-Diver.  All inclusive cost of $50.00.  Call Dave for more details or go to www.dixiedivers.com. 

April 26:  Pete Stephinson's Annual Golf Scramble (Saturday)  Pete will be hosting his annual golf outing at the Boca Dunes Golf & Country Club in Boca Raton.  A $50.00 fee pays for golf, cart, trophies, prizes, buffet lunch, beer and sodas.  Such a deal.  All abilities are welcome so contact Pete for more details.

May 7:  General Meeting  7:30 PM (Sharp!)    New location!!  New Location!!  New Location!!            American Legion Post 36   1600 W. State Road 84   Directions are available at another location on this website.  Hope to see y'all there.

May 10:  8:00 AM Show  8:30 AM Go (Saturday) "Private" Boat Dive  Once again our intrepid crews are taking their flotilla onto the open seas for a day of underwater fun.  As always, the boats will be leaving from John U. Lloyd State Park and, as always, it will behoove you to be on time.  Call John Kansman or Dave Wills for more information.

May 10:  Wine Tasting (Saturday) Susan Judah and Ray Gonzalez want to invite everyone to their house for a very special wine tasting.  The rules are very simple... bring a bottle of your favorite wine (or beverage of choice), an appetizer to share, and a smile and plan to have a great evening.  The festivities are planned to begin at 7:00 PM.  Call Susan or Ray for more information, address and directions.

May 11:  Mother's Day

May 12:  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.  Summer is just around the corner, so why not think of an event to sponsor and join us at E-Board to get it on the Calendar?

May 15:  A Night at the Opera (Thursday)  Joe G was so pleased with the response to "Spamalot" that he is going to invite all opera lovers to a performance of Julius Caesar by the Florida Grand Opera at the Au Rene Theatre in Riverwalk.  The curtain goes up at 7:30.  Ticket prices will be in the $55.00 range.  Please give Joe a call for more details and go to www.floridagrandopera.com for additional insights.

May 17:  1:00 PM Show  1:30 PM Go (Saturday) Three Tank Dive Trip  Fred Miller and Kim Hunziker are planning to host a three tanker aboard the American Dream.  This promises to be a highlight event featuring Tenneco Towers, a 60' reef and a shallower third dive, all for the bargain price of $75.00, tax and tip included.  Call Fred or Kim for more info or go to www.scubafortlauderdale.com. 

May 21:  1:30 PM Show  2:00PM Go "Over-the-Hill & Off-the-Stern" (Wednesday) Dave Schneider has heard that the water will be wet and the conditions good for a bunch of old folk and/or goldbrickers to do the plunge off the Starfish Enterprise. For $50.00 tax and tip included you can join him for an uncrowded afternoon of diving.  www.idivestarfish.com. 

May 22:  Dinner-at-Large  Back by popular demand, Gerry Cowen will be hosting an evening of oriental delights at Ichiban Japanese Restaurant, University Drive, just south of I-595.  The dinner gong will resound at 7:30 so be sure to bring your chopsticks and appetites.  Call Gerry for more information.

May 24:  Pre-Roatan Party    Only for those going on the Roatan trip.

May 24:  8:30 AM Show  9:00 AM Go (Saturday)  Parrot Island Adventure  Jeff Raffa had such a good time in March on Fathoms of Fun that he wants 11 other people to join him for another great day of diving and friendship.  The boat leaves from Pompano, right up close to the Hillsboro inlet.  Total cost, tax and tip included, is $50.00.  For more info call Jeff or go to www.parrotislandscuba.com. 

May 25:  Pre-Cozumel Party  Only for those going on the Cozumel trip.

May 26:  Memorial Day

May 31:   12:30 PM Show  1:00 PM Go (Saturday)  Kim Hunziker and Pat Kahl are teaming up to offer a super day on, and under, the waters off Miami.  They welcome one and all aboard RJ's Diving Ventures excellent boat, the Big Com-Ocean. The plans are to dive the 165 ft. freighter Tortuga  (117 ft. depth) followed by the Army Tanks (50ft. depth). The Tortuga  requires Advanced  Certification.  Total cost will be $55.00 (less if we get 10 or more divers). Valet parking is available for $5.00 if the Marina is full.  Dinner at Monte's afterwards will also be a treat.  Call Kim or Pat for more information or go to RJ's website at www.rjdiving.com.

May 31 - June 7:  Cozumel!  

June 15 - 22:  Roatan!

Just a "teaser" of some future events:    July 26: Member Appreciation Day    

                                              August 15-17:  Annual Keys Weekend

                                              September(?):  Bahamas Weekend

                                              October(?):  Marathon Camping Weekend

 

INTERNATIONAL TRIPS FOR 2008 - 2009

May 31 - June 7:      Cozumel - Iberostar Resort    Jeff Raffa, Coordinator    

June 15 - June 22:    Roatan - Fantasy Island Beach Resort    Dave Schneider, Coordinator

July 12 - July 19:     Dominica - Castle Comfort Lodge    Pete Stephinson, Coordinator     

January 6 - 18, 2009:   Raja Ampat, Indonesia   Seven Seas (liveaboard)     $4500.00+/-                                                               The trip includes 12 nights on the Seven Seas, all diving, meals, coffee, tea, drinking water, sodas, optional land and beach trips.  Trip cost is based on double occupancy with a deposit of 30% and balance due 90 days before departure. Cancellations made up to 90 days before departure are subject to a $500.00 cancellation fee and within 90 days there are no refunds. Not included are all airfares, hotels, transfers enroute to Sorong and mandatory trip insurance. Departure will be on or about January 2, 2009.  Return home should be by January 20,2009. For more information please go to www.thesevenseas.com or give Fred Miller a call.

AND SOME LAST IMPORTANT NOTES...

Club Policies on Dives and Trips:

Dives, Trips, Activities and events are run according to the SFDI Policies and Procedures, which are available to everyone.  If you don’t have a copy, please ask the Membership VP, or other E-Board member at the next General Meeting. Here is a summary of some of the important ones:

1.      Payment for Dives, Events and trips:  A member is confirmed on a dive, trip or event only after they have paid.  Payments for dives should be made when signing up.  Payments for trips should be made according to the schedule as outlined by the trip coordinator.  In the event that a dive/trip/activity is oversubscribed, then those confirmed will be determined by the order of payment.

2.      Cancellation:  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.  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.

3.      Certification Requirements:  Some dives will be restricted to divers with certain minimum certification levels.  For example Advanced Open Water.  In some cases, these requirements will be set by the dive operator.  In others they may be set by the dive organizer in conjunction with the E-Board based on the profile and characteristics of the planned dive.  In these cases the minimum certifications required for the dive will be clearly identified on the sign up sheet and in the published calendar.  No exceptions will be made for any reason.

4.      Special Needs:  Some of our members have “special needs” when participating on a dive or trip. These can be cases where the diver needs extra assistance on a dive boat or a member has particular requirements regarding accommodations. Dive organizers will check for the common ones, such as the requirement for extra assistance getting into or out of the water.  However, it is the responsibility of the member to make sure that his/her needs are known to the organizer and if there is any doubt the member should contact the operator in advance.  It is the responsibility of the club member to verify that their needs can be accommodated prior to the event/trip/activity.

 

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Camping Pics 2008

 

Photos by Dave Schnieder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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April Dinner at Large Pics

 

On March 17,  SFDI Members Joined

John Kansman at Don Auturos for a Great Evening of Food and Spirits !!

Photos by Pete Stephinson

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

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May Dinner at Large

 Thursday, May 22

 

 

   Back by popular demand, Gerry Cowen will be hosting an evening of oriental delights at Ichiban Japanese Restaurant, University Drive, just south of I-595.  The dinner gong will resound at 7:30 so be sure to bring your chopsticks and appetites.  Call Gerry for more information.

 

 

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2008 PIG ROAST PICTURES

 

 

Photo by Pete Stephinson

For More Pics From the Pig Roast Click Here !!

 

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OceanFest 2008

 

 

OceanFest 2008 Made a BIG SPLASH as SFDI Members Greeted Fellow Divers

 

Photos by Pete Stephinson

 

 

 

 

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May Meeting Program

 

May is a Social Night. Get to know your Fellow Members Better.

 

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Pennekamp Marine Park, March 30th. 2008
 
Observers in at Pennekamp Marine Park today witnessed a rare event, a South Dakota Snowbird (SDS) taking to the water. The SDS is a grey headed, black bodied bird, originating from South Dakota, a little known sub species of the more common North East Snowbird. Like it's more easterly cousins, the SDS migrates to South Florida for the winter months and is usually spotted wandering aimlessly round open fields waving a clubbed stick and chasing a little white ball. Alternatively they tend to congregate at watering holes, typically with names like "The Lion & Eagle" indulging in their favorite malt beverage. It was therefore a rare event to witness one of this rare species performing an uncharacteristic act, namely plunging into the water on Molasses Reef. The SDS did live to tell the tale but was heard to say, "I did it, but that's enough until next year".  This event is of such rarity that few will be able to witness it, however our reporter was able to record this event for posterity and for your viewing pleasure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Man to See Julie Taylor

 

A man came to our March meeting and I greeted him at the front door as usual. I asked if he was there to attend the meeting as a guest and he said "No, I think I'm here to see you. Are you Julie Taylor?" I replied in the affirmative and he explained that he had driven down from Palm Beach to see me, and ask permission to paint one of my photos which he had seen on our website. I gave the permission and he said he would send me a print of the painting. Sure enough, a couple weeks later I received a UPS package with print #1 of 200. I brought it to the April meeting so you might have seen it there. The painters name is Gary Carpentier and his website is garycarpentier.com you can see the print on his website with an acknowledgement that says the photo was taken by Julie Taylor of South Florida Divers, Inc. 
  He has a number of very good, and interesting paintings on his website. You can purchase the original paintings or prints of any of the paintings. 
 
 
Julie 
 

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SFDI SHARE A BOOK
 

Read any good books lately?  If you have, perhaps you would like to share them with your dive buddies.

Bring a book you would like to share to the monthly meeting. We’ll put it in our “Library” with the following book plate on it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Date)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

recommends this book.

 

(Name)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They

 

want

it back

 

 

do not want

 

 

 

 

 
         

 

 

If the book hasn’t circulated in 90 days and you don’t want it back, we’ll donate it to Hospice

 

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DIVING SMALL

 

A Feature by Brian Hufford

 

Gettin' tried of seeing the same old schools of grunts on every dive?  You know, the mixed schools of French, Blue Stripe, White, Tomtate, and Small Mouth grunts we see on every wreck and reef we dive on.  They're fun to see and it's good the reef system is healthy enough for them, but there's a whole 'nother world in the cracks and crevices, under the ledges, and sitting on the coral just waiting to be discovered.  It's the world the macro photographers love, the small stuff. We've all seen the Saddle Blenny, with the distinct dark saddles on it back.   Just in our diving area alone, there are over 100 species smaller than 3”.  Many of them live under the ledges, like the Cardinal fish, glassy sweepers,  and some of the gobies.  Some of the other gobies and blennies are just sitting out in the open, either on coral or the rubble next to it, using body color and marking as camouflage. They often let a diver get very close before scooting off to a nearby hiding place.  My favorites are the tube blennies; they live in old worm holes, with just their head protruding.  They're small, the head is about the size of a pencil eraser.  They'll dart out and grab a bite to eat or go fight with a neighbor that's gotten too close. 

 

Here's some tips for enjoying these fish.  Go SLOOOOOW!!  Anyone that's been diving with me knows I go very slow.  There's lots to see going slow, and it doesn't spook the fish, even the small ones.  Make sure you can see up close.  We older folks often need vision correction, so if you need reading glasses to read (this), you'll need them in your mask too.  Guage reader inserts work great for. (Don't use the “stick on” kind, they don't stay in the mask very well.) Carry a small dive light for seeing back under the ledge or in a hole.  I also carry plastic magnifying glasses, so I can see the marking and tell some of the very small ones apart. 

 

Next time you're on the second dive on a shallow reef, consider diving small to see all these fun little critters.  Bring all the stuff you'll need so you can enjoy the dive.

 

 

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LOBSTER LAW CHANGES

 

by Stan Pierce

 

The Florida State FWC is about to adversely change the Lobster catch laws to favor the Trap Fisherman and reduce the sport diver's opportunity to enjoy their sport.

 Chris and I attended the Spiny Lobster Ad Hoc Advisory Board meeting at the Fishing Hall of Fame

Many points were raised but the absolute consensus was the FWCC Ad Hoc Lobster committee is under represented by recreational interests and as such, the commercial harvesters (trappers) currently have free reign to change the rules to ensuring themselves of a stable catch level taken from a dwindling resource.

A few numbers to think about:
- less than 500 trappers make a living from trapping lobsters yet they take 70+% of the resource
- over 130,000 recreational lobster stamps were sold to FL residents last year yet they only account for 20% of the catch
- commercial lobster divers account for 7% and bully netting accounts for the remaining 2-3%

We feel the Spiny Lobster Advisory Board was stacked in favor of the commercial trappers. The board is comprised of 4 commercial trappers, 3 wholesalers, 3 recreational fishers (divers) and 3 NGOs. No dive industry representative was appointed.

The meetings were held State areas, which were not populated with sport divers or dive industry businesses.  

As Divers we are not against a shorter season for all parties. We are not against a larger license fee FOR ALL PARTIES (slotted for enforcement). We welcome any suggestions leading to a sustainable lobster fishery resource.

It is proposed to:
•    Lengthen the season for Commercial Trappers.
•    Require State issue catch tags for Sport Divers
•    Reduce the limit for Sport Divers
•    Put an end to mandatory trap reductions

SAVE YOUR SPORT

 Send in your comments or need additional information go to:
 
http://myfwc.com/marine/workgroups/index.html#Spiny_Lobster

 

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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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A SAFETY MINUTE

                                                               This Months Feature by Joe Giandinoto

 

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.

May 2008 Safety Minute