MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING;
WEDS. 4 Oct.98;
The general meeting was called to order by our president Bill Johns, at 7:05 pm , with nine members present.
OLD BUSINESS - NONE OUTSTANDING BUT THE SEPTEMBER CLUB CAMP OUT DIVE AT LIME KILN was the first topic of discussion by several members who attended. It was reported that the camping was really good but the diving sucked. It is reported that a diver could only see approximately 10 feet at the most. The surf entry wasn't too great either as the currant was running back against the shore, which by its self made swimming out a little on the tough side.
Jim Trayer, Scott Kern, Jeff Young , Steve Lopez , and Andy YEN made the first dive but agreed that the conditions were not the best , after seeing only several small fish. So it was decided to do the second tank dive back up at Monastery Beach which wasn't much better, THE SURF WAS UP AND ROLLING, DIFFICULT ON BOTH THE ENTRY AND EXIT. Our gang watched as many divers had trouble getting in and out of the water. But better a second tank than nothing so into the water several members went, and although there was more viz and undersea life the dive was only average according to the participants.
The cookout dinner went great and everyone agreed it was a pretty good weekend after all was said and done. We hope to get a more detailed report from the dive host shortly which should explain the trip.
Tony Ferrara just back from a three week vacation to Oahu Hawaii says the water was in the upper 60's to mid 70's and nothing more than a dive skin was necessary to dive at the Mahi wreck and the Mahaka Caverns located on the ewa side of the island. At the Mahi Wreck (bottom at 90 feet, mast at 40 feet) saw six or seven turtles , other big pelagic sea life included a cruising nurse shark, also the spotted rays that always seem to be in the area. And oh yes the green stripped moray still lives in the front anchor chain wench . The Mahaka Caverns are lava tubes that are as long as 90 feet and as short as just a 10 to 20 foot swim through. A whole lot of Lobsters live on the shelves and cracks of the caves, along with moray who say feed me good stuff or leave me alone . Max depth for this dive is 52 feet. You run out of film long before you run out of air.
However , if you going to do any diving diving on the ewa side of Oahu best avoid the ARGUS 11 out of Kahala & Kapunti Point Harbor . Why ?? The boat is only 18 feet long, with just eight divers aboard there is no room to suit-up without waiting for someone to get out of your way' There is absolutely no storage room for your extra gear set up such as a camera , also even though there is space under your spot on the side bench you are asked by the captain not to use it but use the small tween deck storage (between the deck your on and the inside of the hull. ) But mostly because the captain who runs the boat has a standing rule for all his passengers that they must return to the boat with no less than 1000 pounds of air left in there tanks or he will FINE THEM $30. 00, AND HE'S NOT JOKING! NO EXCUSES Diving with a computer or not makes no difference to him.
Looks to me like all he's really interested in is HURRYING BACK FOR ANOTHER LOAD OF DUMB MAINLAND DIVERS..I'm sure this mans main object is to get a whole lot of return business. Ben Davidson's Undercurrent "The Traveling Diver's Chapbook" has been informed and will probably pay the Argus 11 a visit. Good Luck Ben!
SO WHAT ELSE IS HAPPEN ING OUT THERE IN THE DIVING WORLD?
NEW BUSINESS /PLANS
A- 1.)The next club dive is The 8th Annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving Dive at Breakwater Monterey. Presently scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 24, a Saturday . Meet at 0900 hrs. Bring your own pumpkin and two tanks. The long standing rules for this contest are as follows; 1.) Bring your own pumpkin which has to be at least 8" (inches) in diameter, and goodies bag to put it in. 2.) Have no writing or marking on them prior to descent. NO WEIGHTS of any kind can be used to sink the pumpkin!!! (Two years ago a really big fool brought an extra weight belt to help hold down his pumpkin, he was specifically told to not take the extra belt and to leave it in the boat. But he went over the side with it anyway telling the club members present that he was responsible,( to quote him ) "that he had it all figured out " , saying "the no weight rule didn't apply to him!" 3.) All carving with a standard dive knife only and is to be done at depth AT LEAST TWENTY FEET, no finish up carving done above water. 4.) Only one pumpkin can be entered in the contest per dive team. A dive team consist of no less than two club members. All diving participants must return from their dive with no less than 500 PSI of air left in their tanks. First, Second and Third place prizes will be awarded at the end of the dive. Are you interested in going then contact Tony Ferrara to sign up. (408)395-6998
B- ) Paul Pearah says he will now host the NOV. Night Dive to take place at Breakwater, Monterey on the day following Thanksgiving a Friday. Meet at 5 PM
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE CLUB HAS A LENDING LIBRARY?
Well, we do. Video tapes on all the known California State Parks, also video diving guide to the Bahamas . -also on the Caribbean island diving, it..Anquilla,Barbados, Cancun, Cozumel, Key West in Vol # 1. 90 mins. , Vol # 2. --Jarnaica, Montego Bay, Oucho Rios, Martinique, St. Barths, St. Johns, St, Maarten, 90 mins. Vol # 3.-Antigua, Dominica, Grand Cayman, 45 mins., Vol # 4. British Virgins islands, Guadalupe, Montserrat. 45 mins
OUR CLUB MOTTO IS TO DIVE AT LEAST EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR! DUES ARE $30 A YEAR, YOU GET AN AIR REFILL CARD GOOD AT DIVER DAN'S SHOP, AND ALSO A 5% DISCOUNT ON NEW EQUIPMENT PURCHASES. MEETINGS ON 2 ND Wednesday EVERY MONTH AT THE STORE.
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COME AND JOIN OUR CLUB- WE'RE IN IT FOR THE FUN OF THE SPORT! WE MEET EVERY SECOND Wednesday IN THE UPSTAIRS CLASSROOMS AT DIVER DAN'S IN SANTA CLARA.
