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This issue is best viewed on the web with Internet Explorer:
http://RochesterScuba.org/newsletters/200801 |
February 19th 2008
Topics:
"Boyle's Law" science fair project
stories and photos from Cozumel
stories of Florida cave diving
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| RochesterScuba.org |
Notes from the January Holiday Party
I was too busy having fun and visiting to take notes, but I think this stuff happened:
- happy hour with lots of conversation
- brief "meeting" in which Dave Merbach handed over the reins of presidential power to Bob Silbaugh
- dinner with some great food and more conversation
- presentation by Steve Daniel, GLSPS president, on their many projects over the last year
- brief slideshow of the club's activities for 2007
Wazee Passes
Due to unfortunate budget constraints in Jackson County Parks, we no longer receive a club discount on Wazee passes. The cost is now the full price of $75 instead of our old discount of $50. You can still order a pass through the club by filling out this form.
GLSPS "Dive Into the Past" Show
The ninth annual Twin Cities Shipwreck & Scuba Show occurs on Saturday February 23rd in Mounds View, MN. The special guest speakers are the US Navy dive team who will talk about the I-35W Bridge recovery effort. See more details at the GLSPS website.
It should be a popular presentation, so you might want to get tickets in advance for $12 (available at MDC Sports) or $15 at the door (at the risk of being sold out).
Several of us plan to go. We can work out car-pool details at the February club meeting.
February Meeting Agenda
Monica Merbach will present her science fair project on "Boyle's Law" which included in-pool experiments! John Westgard will present photos and stories from his recent trip to Cozumel. John Preston will then tell of the Florida cave-diving trip that he made with John Martin, Alex Carlson, and Jim Campos.
New TSA Rule on Flying with Batteries
Effective January 1, 2008, there are some new restrictions on traveling by air with lithium-ion batteries. Check these web pages for details:
Anniversary Trek to Cozumel, Mexicostory and photos by John WestgardMy wife Paige and I headed back to Cozumel for our annual trek a few weeks ago and this time extended it from a week to 10 days. Our anniversary gift, plus our Christmas gift to each other is the trip every year... so it better have nice weather. It did!
The Trip: We flew into Cancun (saved over 180-bucks on the airfare over direct to Cozumel), rode the bus to Playa Del Carmen ($9 each way per person), then the vomit express... wait, I think it's actually called the Ferry Boat ($11 each way per person)... to the island. I don’t do well on boats of any size, and this was an effort of much concentration, closed eyes, and the Ipod volume cranked.
For those who have never been to Cozumel, GO! If you’re thinking of going... do it. Nothing recharges the batteries like a little warm water drift diving.
The Diving: Always wonderful and for the past 5 years I have seen more and more new things. Drift diving is effortless when you just go with the flow. As for the Blue Angel crew... again, wonderful. Three days with a "new" guide... Matt (whose name was changed to Poncho by Pony in the dive shop to avoid confusion with Matteo). Great instructor from Canada who is there for a 6 month stretch. Eighteen dives, which included only 2 night shore dives. Saw the usual: tons of fish, corals, critters, a few Reef Sharks, an Eagle Ray, several Octopus and we were treated to a snapper making a meal out of an octopus. (got that on video!) Even got a dive in with Anita, who had nothing better to do on Sunday. | ||||||||
Friends: Last year we met 2 couples staying at the hotel. One couple great, the other couple... well, lets just say 1/2 of them were fun to be around. After staying in contact all year, Tony & Michelle, and Tish ended up booking their trips the same time. Tish, now single... brought her sister Melissa, a great improvement over her dive buddy last year. We also met a new couple; John & Megan. All of them are from the Chicago area. Melissa got certified while there, and is a natural underwater. Above, well she and I kept the crowds entertained with teary eyes and sore tummies from laughing. Good times! It was also nice to see some of the Blue Angel "regulars" who are there a lot, and a surprise to see Brian LaMonica one morning. He was there for a couple of days but we didn’t get a chance to dive with him. Jeanie wasn’t there (the U.S. contact person), but the owner Alejandra was. She thought the dive-flag painted big toe should be mandatory for every visitor.
Food: What can I say? I haven’t been to a bad restaurant yet! Found a new one this time... called ESPECIAS RESTAUBAR. Great food, great view and cold SOL! Went there twice. We hit the regular spots: Guidos & La Chosa each once, Dorados (on the south side of the plaza) 3-times, & Rockin Java (twice... had to get a salad the 2nd time). Of course, there was breakfast & lunch at the on-site restaurant. | ||||||||
Overview:
There were no arrests or injuries to anyone in our "group"... which was disappointing. Everyone likes a little drama now & then! Again, we never ventured away from the town or hotel... I realized the other side of the island hasn’t seen me since 2000. Maybe next year. Last year I did a Cenote dive, and will go back next year. I also need to get a rattle/shaker for underwater as no-one seems to respond to my yelling. Perhaps I was being ignored... I’m not sure. Hope to see you blowing bubbles! John Westgard | ||||||||
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Helium Supplies Endangered
See the article on Science.Com. Might be time to start looking into rebreathers....
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| Some sharky LolCats at http://icanhascheezburger.com/ | |
| Fun quiz! |
Q: For each pound of shrimp that makes it to market, how much bycatch is wasted? A: Between 3 and 14 pounds, depending on the fishery. Ok, that quiz wasn't so much fun. |
RUEG Tip of the Month
Question: How should I pack my dive gear?
David Merbach:
I have containers that I put into my large bin to store my things.
- contains most of the small things (SMB, reel, wet notes, mask, depth gauge/computer, etc.)
- contains my regulators
- contains my light
- is a bag of tools/parts
This covers the bottom of the bin.
Then I put my backplate and fins for a 'divider' layer. Then my wing, log book and towel. My gloves, glove liners and hood I pack with the drysuit. This works great for setting up - I just work my way down into the bin as I set up.
For tearing down I put things back into the proper container and when full put it into the bin. This isn't always the best because I generally forget something that I need to tuck into an already packed bin - so it isn't quite organized at the end of the day.
Each container is used to store my things and I have them stacked on shelves in my basement - so I can just grab the containers, pile them into the bin and know that everything is there.
Jim Campos:
First in - Last OutLast in - First Out
It is the way I was taught to pack "my gear" when I was introduced to "my gear" in Military school. It has always made sense to me when you are minimizing the size of your baggage.
I have a tendency to just stuff my equipment into the bin after the dive. That way I can just pull it out and rinse and hang it without having to pull it out of a bag/bin/container.
Roger Southwick:
For local diving I follow Dave & Jim's basic procedure, but I'm starting to keep the toolkit out by itself so I don't have to dig for it when it's needed - usually to help someone else when my gear is still packed (since I always arrive late).
For travelling by air it's a bit different: I put sturdy gear toward the outside of the bag to protect more fragile gear in the center. I'll put fins along the walls of the bag and pack the BC on the bottom. Mask & regs go on top of the BC between the fins, then clothing on top to provide some more protection. (Who needs a suitcase for clothes? I'm a guy.) Camera housing and strobes go in a hardsided case as checked luggage. Cameras & lenses are in a carryon bag.
For a day of boat diving in Cozumel, there's no need to bring a big dive bag. Wetsuit is half on, booties are on. A mesh bag carries mask, sunscreen, wrist-mounted dive computer, hood, chamois towel, and a small drybox with $5 tip for the crew. I put the mesh bag, fins, and regs on the BC and bind it all up with the weight belt to carry in one hand with the camera in the other hand so it all balances out. Easy!
In the News
- Researchers find new deep water coral
- Exotic creatures found in 'coral triangle'
- Scientists: Global warming could kill coral reefs by 2050
- Kidd's Ship Found Off Dominican Island
- Hunley Commander's Watch No Smoking Gun
- Ship runs aground, sinks in Duluth-Superior Harbor
On the Web
The true masters of bubble rings: dolphins!
Upcoming Events
- Feb 15 - 17 (Fri - Sun)
- Our World Underwater in Rosemont Illinois
- Feb 23 (Sat)
- GLSPS Dive Into the Past show
in Mounds View, MN
Special speakers: US Navy dive team on the I-35W Bridge recovery effort.
Tickets are $12 in advance (available at MDC Sports) or $15 at the door - Mar 7 - 8 (Fri - Sat)
- Ghost Ships Festival in Milwaukee WI
See the calendar for other activities.
Club InformationMeetings are on the third Tuesday evening of each month at Holiday Inn South, 1630 South Broadway, Rochester MN. Annual dues are due each January. Annual memberships are $25 for individuals or $50 for a family. Follow the directions on this form to renew. Have you been on any dive trips lately? We'd love to publish your stories and photos! (Seriously.) Contact the editor if you'd like to contribute: Roger Southwick rsouthwick AT charter.net Get your annual Lake Wazee pass for $75 - fill out this form. More info is available:
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