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South Florida Divers, Inc.
CONTENTS |
Ask not what SFDI can do for you, but
what you can do for SFDI........
~ By Pete Stephinson
We are still having great weather and the
water is warm. Last weekend I went with eleven other of our members and dove the
Vandenberg off Key Largo. We were fortunate to have sunny weather, calm seas and
no current. We did 4 dives on the Vandenberg and it was possible to do a free
descent each time. The Vandenberg is a large and interesting wreck with lots to
explore so we all had a great time. I know that others of our membership have
been out diving locally and are still enjoying great conditions for some good
days on and under the water.
In March of this year, you will remember
we supported efforts by Sam Rich and Divers Discount to raise money in support
of SUDS - Soldiers Undertaking Disabled SCUBA. The SUDS Fleamarket we assisted
with raised over $17000 for this worthy cause and was the largest single fund
raising effort to support SUDS. Sam is organizing a similar event in 2010 with
the objective of raising significantly more. Once again we will be supporting
his efforts. You can read more about SUDS elsewhere in this Newsletter and some
of the areas where we will be looking for help. I ask all our membership to get
behind this effort for 2010.
As we approach the end
of 2009, it is time to start thinking of the year end festivities. On the
calendar there are dates for the annual Harbor Lights Cruise, Holiday Party and
Christmas Tree Dive. For those of you who are new to the club, I recommend the
Christmas tree dive. When else will you have the opportunity to trim a tree,
planted on the deck of a sunken ship, with biodegradeable goodies and watch the
local residents stop by for a bite to eat ? It's always a lot of fun - but
remember to bring your 5mm - it's getting a bit nippy in December. End of year is also the
time of year when we hold elections for next year's eBoard. Being on the
eBoard is a great way to become involved in the running of the club. It's very
rewarding and a lot of fun. I encourage any members, either long standing
members or those new to the club to consider an eboard position. All of us have
different strengths and interests which can benefit the club. New members are
very welcome. Participation gives you the opportunity to work on the inside to
help guide our activities and directions. We will be calling for
nominations at the November and December General meetings. The election will be
held during the December meeting. So if you're interested have someone nominate
you - or nominate yourself. So have fun, keep safe
and I hope to see you in the water some time soon Pete
president@sfdi.com
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Notice of Elections for Eboard positions for 2010
With the end of 2009 approaching it is time to elect our Executive Board Members for 2010. All positions are up for election. Nominations will be solicited at the November General Meeting and then again at the December General Meeting. After nominations are closed an election will be held to decide the 2010 Executive Board Members during the December meeting.
The Executive Board Positions are:
President
VP Membership and Membership Assistant
VP Calendar and Calendar Assistant
Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer
Webmaster
Greeter
Editor
Sergeant at Arms
Members at Large (6)
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Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba
SUDS Fleamarket 2010
As we did during 2009, SFDI will be supporting the efforts of Sam Rich and Divers Discount to run a SCUBA oriented Flea Market in support of SUDS scheduled for March 13th and 14th 2010.
SUDS stands for "Soldiers Undertaking Disabled SCUBA" and is a program run out of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Center. It is designed to help improve the lives of injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. SUDS is a 501(c3) non-profit organization.
The
2010 goal is to raise over $50,000 with all proceeds going directly to SUDS. Hours are 10am – 4pm Saturday and Sunday. Throughout the 2 days, new scuba equipment will be auctioned to the highest bidders via a live silent auction and online at our website. Prizes in the auction will total over $50,000. Gift certificates from restaurants, stores, certification agencies, sporting events, charter boats, and diving equipment will be part of 2 raffles. Prizes totaling over $5000.00 will be awarded to the winning tickets. Finally, a huge selection of donated quality used gear will be sold at the flea market for a fraction of cost. The SUDS Flea Market has everything from tanks to trips. Come and greet our soldiers.
We are accepting donations of new and used snorkeling and scuba equipment for the SUDS Flea Market. You can donate cash with your credit card, prizes travel, entertainment, recreation and dining gift certificates. Please show your support for our wounded warriors. Sponsor a hero. Call us today. As we did last year, we will be helping by providing manpower to help set up and run the fleamarket. We will be asking members to sign up during January and February. Other ways you can help include: - donate tents to cover stalls during the Flea Market - distribute fliers to your local dive shops for them to have available to their customers to publicize the event - donate used diving equipment to be sold at the Fleamarket - ask your favorite restaurants, dive shops, charter boats etc to donate gift certificates, boat trips etc to be raffled at the fleamarket - make a cash donation to SUDS If you would like to be more directly involved in helping to organize the SUDS Fleamarket please contact Sam Rich or Pete Stephinson. Expect to hear more about the SUDS fleamarket as we get closer to the March. For further information access www.sudsfleamarket.com or join the cause "SUDS Fleamarket - March 13-14 2010" on Facebook All
donations are tax deductible.
The
proceeds from all areas of this fundraising effort go to SUDS. |
MEETING LOCATION !!!
Location for General Meeting
Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club, 2637 Whale Harbor Lane, Ft. Lauderdale
The Same Place We Have The Pig Roast and Seafood Fest !!
Directions:
1. Take I 95 to Davie Blvd. Head West.
2. Turn Left on 27th Ave, (Riverland Road ).
3. Follow around and Stay on Riverland Road
4. Turn left at Whale Harbor Lane.
5. Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club is on the Right
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PLEASE SEE NOTE ABOVE !!
SFDI meetings are the first Wednesday of each month at Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club. 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: Joe Cooper And a returning member after a long absence: Rick Rocco
As a Reminder to Everyone, We are a NO-DECOMPRESSION Dive Club. Always adhere to Safe Recreational Dive Depths and Limits.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS November... and beyond
By Dave Schneider, Vice President, Calendar
To ensure privacy please note that event Coordinators phone numbers are never posted. If you are a Club member please consult your Buddy List for the number you need. If you do not have a copy there will be one available at the next General Meeting, or contact Melissa Ames.
Just a quick reminder... The Calendar exists for the convenience of all our members. If you see a future event that is of interest please contact the Coordinator directly. You can sign on to an event at any time. The Coordinator will be more than pleased to place your name on the list and tell you where to mail payment.
Remember.. you are not confirmed on an event until you have made payment. A member who signs on later but makes payment first will receive preference.
October 17: 1:30 PM Show 2:00 PM Go (Saturday) The reefs of Palm Beach County beckon y'all for some A-1 diving and hunting, if you so desire. We're going on Starfish Enterprise out of Lantana. Cost will be $55.00, tax and tip included. Dinner at the Old Key Lime House is always a good way to end the day. Call Dave Schneider for details or to book. www.idivestarfish.com for info on the boat.
October 23: Bonnie & Donna Night (Friday) Donna Eades wants a whole bunch of her friends to join her at the Pompano Amphitheater for a free concert starring Bonnie Raitt. All you need bring is a chair, your beverage of choice and a snack to share. Donna will be spreading her 20 foot tarp at around 5 PM so get there on time and enjoy a great show.
October 23 - 25: Penne-Camp & Dive Weekend Back for a second year, we will be limited to 6 tents this time around. A weekend in "the woods", good friends, food, drink and maybe a little diving thrown in for good measure. All for around $20.00 per person, diving not included. More to follow or call Dave Schneider.
October 29 - November 1: Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show
November 4: General Meeting 7:30 PM Sharp! Lauderdale Isles Yacht and Tennis Club Address and directions elsewhere on the website. Nominations for E-Board positions will be opened at this meeting. Voting will be in December .
November 9: SFDI Executive Board Meeting at Connections for Business, 2843 Pembroke Road, NE corner of I-95 and Pembroke Road. Everybody welcome. Meeting starts at 7:30.
November 8: 7:45 AM Show 8:30 AM Go (Sunday) Creature Feature Dive Come join Debby Bradford in Key Largo for a "must do" feeding dive and underwater treasure hunt with Capt. Slate's Atlantis Dive Center. For $60.00 you get two dives, two tanks and a great time. Book directly with the dive center. Call Debby for more details or go to www.captainslate.com.
November 14: 8:00 AM Show 8:30 AM Go (Saturday) Once again onto the briny with Dave, John and assorted other vessels, departing from John Lloyd State Park, Dania. Going to be a beautiful day for divers and (hopefully) a rotten day for lobsters.
November 14: Pete's Golf Scramble (Saturday) Pete Stephinson will be hosting his annual golf outing at the Boca Dunes Golf & Country Club in Boca Raton. A $55.00 fee pays for golf, cart, trophies, prizes, buffet lunch, beer and sodas. Such a deal. All abilities welcome so contact Pete for more details.
November 15: Bike Ride (Sunday) It's gonna be a struggle but Julie Taylor is planning to drag herself out of bed and over to Hollywood Beach for an 11:00 AM bike ride. We applaud her noble effort.
November 18: Dinner-at-Large (Wednesday) Lynne Schreiber will be our hostess at Tropical Acres, 2500 Griffin Road for a superb dinner. The steaks are great, the seafood outstanding and, of course, your presence will make it a memorable night. Dinner bell will be at 7:30. Call Lynne for more details or go to www.tropicalacres.com.
December 2: General Meeting 7:30 PM Sharp! Lauderdale Isles Yacht and Tennis Club Address and directions elsewhere on the website. There will be E-Board elections.
December 5: Holiday Party What's a Calendar without mention of this one?
December 7: SFDI Executive Board Meeting at Connections for Business, 2843 Pembroke Road, NE corner of I-95 and Pembroke Road. Everybody welcome. Meeting starts at 7:30.
December 12: 8:00 AM Show 8:30 AM Go Annual "Trim the Tree" Dive (Saturday) Always a lot of fun, this year we plan to use the Blue Runner out of Dania Beach. At this time we are planning for two dives, one to sink and trim the tree and the second on a shallow reef. The cost should be $50.00, tax and tip included. Call Gerry Cowen for details and call Dave Schneider to sign-up. www.coastalmarinediving.com
December 19: Holiday Lights Cruise 6:30 PM Show 7:00 PM Go (Saturday) Once again Bob Horin all aboard the Lady-Go-Diver sailing out of Deefield Beach. This has long been a Holiday Season highlight so sign on soon since we will be limited to the first 40 paid members. Cost will be $20.00 and the "extra" price of admission, as always, will be a covered dish to share. Please bring your own beverage.
March 13 - 14: SUDS Flea Market
April 9 - 11: Spring Camp & Dive Okay, it's still 2009, but it's never too soon to let everyone in on a good thing. Craig & Linda Sandel have reserved sites again at J.D. State Park in Jupiter. Plan to eat, drink, dive, canoe, kayak, bike, hike and revel to your hearts content. Space is limited so sign up early and be sure to pay the $25.00 per person to ensure your participation. Tents only due to space limitations. |
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"POLICIES & PROCEDURES" NOW PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE
The rules and regulations that we must all abide by are now printed in their entirety on the website. I cannot stress enough how important it is that all members, new and old, read and be thoroughly aware of how these rules apply to them. I have summarized below some of the more important points.
Payment: A member is confirmed only after they have paid. Payments for dives must be made when signing up. Payments for trips must be made according to the schedule as outlined by the Coordinator. In the event that a dive, trip, etc. is overbooked than those confirmed to go will be determined by the date order of payment.
Cancellation: Once a member signs on for a dive, event, etc. he/she is obligated to pay unless they contact the Coordinator by the specified cancellation time, as outlined in the Policies and Procedures.
Certification Requirements: Some dives will be restricted to divers with certain minimum requirements, generally as specified by the dive operator. In some cases these minimums may be set by the Coordinator in conjunction with the E-Board based on the profile and/or characteristics of the planned dive. No exceptions will be allowed for any reason.
Special Needs: Some of our members have "special needs" when participating on a dive or trip. These can be cases where the person needs extra assistance on a dive boat, special requirements regarding accommodations, etc. Coordinators are not psychic. It is the responsibility of the member to make sure the Coordinator knows of these needs well in advance of the event.
Please be sure that these rules are clear to you. If not, get clarification from any E-Board member.
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OVERSEAS TRIPS 2010
Tobago 2010
May 8th - May 15th
"The waters of Tobago teem with colorful reef fish and healthy corals, but it is the encounters with the "Giants of the Drift" that truly set this island apart from all other Caribbean dive destinations.
Accommodation: Manta Lodge
Estimated cost for the trip is $1500 and includes:
DOMINICA 2010
June 12 - 19
Great diving, quaint surroundings and some good above water activities will highlight the Dominica 2010 adventure.
We're looking at a price of $ 1900.00 +/- and this will include all transportation, transfers, room, full breakfasts, trip insurance and gratuities.
Four days of 2 tank diving One day of 3 tanks plus lunch on board One whale and dolphin watching trip Unlimited shore diving
Spots will be limited so call Dave Schneider to reserve yours now. A $ 200.00 deposit is required which can be paid at the November meeting or you can mail your check to Kim Hunziker.
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E-mail sent to the club
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We are asking the worldwide scuba diving community for help to protect our Florida reefs. Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) was added to the Endangered Species List in 2006. An aspect of the listing was for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to establish an area of Critical Habitat, necessary for the survival of the species. NMFS did that and proposed an area in Florida to include all suitable reef habitats from the Dry Tortugas to the northern end of Palm Beach County. But, the wealthy Town of Palm Beach objected to having the reefs offshore of the town included in the habitat protection area. In November 2008, NMFS issued the final critical habitat designation and excluded the reefs offshore of Palm Beach, eliminating half of Palm Beach County from the protected area. Reef Rescue filed a formal petition with the feds to revise the critical habitat boundary back northward to the Palm Beach Inlet (near where it was originally proposed) to encompass the Staghorn coral growing offshore of the Town of Palm Beach. NMFS accepted the Reef Rescue petition for reevaluation of the habitat boundary. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent a letter to NMFS supporting the Reef Rescue request. The Town of Palm Beach on the other hand sent a letter to NMFS reiterating that reef protection will interfere with its beach renourishment projects and that the limited number of Staghorn coral off their coast does not warrant habitat protections. HERE IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO Email the Town of Palm Beach and ask them to withdraw their objection to the Staghorn coral Critical Habitat Designation for the coral reefs off their shoreline. CLICK HERE to follow the link to our ACTION ALERT page which is setup for you to send an email. The page also presents more information on the issue and provides links to resource materials. It does not matter if you are a Florida or US resident or not. We found in the past, some of the most effective emails were sent from tourists who expressed their concern about visiting a town that was not willing to take the responsibility to protect our reefs. Reefs that are a national treasure and coral that is on the federal Endangered Species List. Please forward this to everyone on your email list. We need your support. The Town of Palm Beach exerts a disproportionate amount of influence on Florida and national politics. Politicians do listen, when enough emails are sent. You can read the local news coverage at the Reef Rescue Blog http://reefrescue.wordpress.com/ and watch our YouTube video by clicking here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da3oNEFn6RgProtecting coral reefs is of worldwide concern, that is why we are asking the global scuba diving community for help. Please help, thank you.
Ed Tichenor, Director Palm Beach County Reef Rescue 561 699-8559 PO Box 207 * Boynton Beach, FL 33425 |
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Vandenberg Dive
photos by Pete Stephinson
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Videos and photos by By David Pressler
.JPG)
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Melissa Ames Bahamas Adventure
Video by Lynne Schreiber
Click center of picture to play video.
Ray Schreiber's Bahamas Adventure Photos
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Pete Stephinson's Bahamas Adventure Photos
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Lynne Schreiber's Bahamas Adventure Photos
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Dave and Elaine Schneider's Bahamas Adventure Photos
Photos by Dave and Elaine Schneider
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Darrell and Nancy Hejde's Bahamas Adventure Photos
Photos by Darrell and Nancy Hejde
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Wayne Pantke's Bahamas Adventure Photos
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November Meeting
Program
SCUBA CYLINDER SAFETY - OR HOW TO AVOID RAPID DECOMPRESSION
On November 4th, our very own Dave Wills will discuss the safety considerations we should be aware of if we own, use, store or transport SCUBA cylinders. His presentation will include compressed gas regulations and cylinder inspection methods. Photographs and examples of “substandard performance” of cylinders will be presented and discussed. Get ready for some interesting “show and tell”!
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ABOUT DAVE WILLS
Dave is a Managing Engineer with Exponent Inc., with many years of experience investigating various failures or substandard performance of cars, trucks, machinery, buildings, boats, ships and many other types of engineered products. Investigations frequently include light microscopy, electron microscopy, chemical analysis, materials testing or other analytical methods. He is frequently involved in “CSI Miami” type investigations but rarely has to deal with bodily fluids.
The ABC’s of diving glossary:
November, 2009 notes brought to you
by the
letter
I
.
IAHD - International Association of Handicapped Divers
IANTD - International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
Inert - Having little or no tendency to react chemically.
Intercostal Muscles - The muscles between the ribs which contract during inspiration to increase the volume of the chest cavity.
Ischemia - Inadequate blood flow to a part or organ.
A SAFETY MINUTE
Joe G's November, 2009 Safety Minute
Dive Planning Checklist:
This can often be overlooked and forgotten.
It is essential you and your chosen scuba diving centre / diving buddy are well prepared before diving:
• Prepare a Diveable Plan
• Collect Predicted Tidal / Weather Information
• Seek Local Area Advice
• Make Contingency Plans
• Make Sure Your Boat Has O2, First-Aid Supplies
• The Boat Has GPS Radio Communication Facility
• Check Exit And Entry Points
• Ensure Identity Of All Divers Is Documented
• Instructor Provides a Clear & Precise Briefing
• Always Carry a Depth Gauge, Compass & Timing Device
• Re-Confirm Depths Of Water
• Check Diving Cylinders Are Full & Open
• Do a Complete Check & Check Again Of Your Diving Equipment
• Do a Complete Buddy Check Each & Every Time You Dive
• Never Be Afraid To Say ‘NO Thank U’ If You Are Not Feeling Up To a Dive
• Always Follow Your Dive Plan
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The Wet Zone South
Florida Divers, Inc., |
