NEWSLETTER MARCH 8, 2001

DA ANCHORLIN= E

NEWSLETTER<= /b> November 10, 2005, Issue 49

Members are encouraged= to submit articles, dive plans and dive reports.

Visit club web site at http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/= divers/

Photographs can be viewed at the above noted website.

Editor: Tom Gormley

Contents

Next Meeting Notice

Holiday Party Report

Artifact and picture contest

Peggy’s News

DAN News

DA Dive Log=

DA Dive Plan

October meeting minute= s

DA Calendar

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Next Mee= ting Notice

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Next club meeting is <= st1:date Year=3D"2005" Day=3D"28" Month=3D"11" w:st=3D"on">Monday, November 28, 2= 005.

We will have our regular business meeting at 730PM

Meeting Program:

  Annual Artifact and Picture Contest

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<= /span>

2006 DA Holiday Party

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The 2006 Divers An= onymous Holiday Party will be held at the Branchbrook Manor on Saturday, January 14, 2006 in Belleville, N. J. We plan to have lots of food, = drink, festivities, and friends so make plans on your calendar to attend this even= t. Active members and their guests are invited, and we will accept reservation= s on a first come basis. Seating will be somewhat limited so see Al Nesterok or Norva Gormley at the next meeting to pay for your tickets. Cost will be $10= for each member and $30 for each guest. More details will be presented by Al at= the next meeting.

So far the following have paid for HP tickets: W= anda and guest, Tom, Norva, Ian, Maurizia, Mark and Jenna<= /p>

Divers Anonymous Annual Artifact and Picture Contest – 2005

Divers,

In our DA tradition, we will again host our annual artifact and picture contest during the November 28^th meeting. Here are the rules:=

Open to all activ= e DA members

Members must be p= resent to participate

Artifact or pictu= re entry must be collected or taken in 2005 by member on a scuba dive at least 15 feet deep

One entry in each category per member is allowed, but additional entries for display are encouraged for group enjoyment

Artifact or pictu= re must be presented, described, and story is required<= /b>

Entries of all ty= pes and qualities are encouraged

A first and second prize will be awarded for each category

Decision of the j= udges is final

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______________________= _________________________________________________

Peggy’s News

1. No Oil Drilling=

2. No Marine Prote= cted Areas

1. Codey to Feds: = No Oil Drilling Off Jersey Shore
RELEASE: October 11, 2005
<= br> (TRENTON)-Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today defended New Jersey's coast telling the federal government he will not allow oil drilling off the Jersey shore. Codey sent a letter to the director of the United States Miner= als Management Service expressing New Jersey= 's staunch opposition to oil and gas drilling along the Atlantic Ocean's Outer Continental Shelf. Codey's letter
was drafted in response to a request for comment on the development of the<= br> federal Minerals Management Service's Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing plan.

"Oil and gas development along New Jersey's coast has the potential to cause signifi= cant and lasting damage upon the state's coastal environment and economy," = said Codey. "The commercial and recreational fishing industries, in additio= n to tourism and related sectors, are critical elements of New Jersey's economic health. Activiti= es associated with oil and gas exploration have the potential to damage water quality, marine habitats, and other
important natural resources."

New Jersey's vibrant coastal economy helps fuel the state's tourism
industry, which generates $32 billion in revenues, in addition to providing=
more than half a million jobs. New Jersey's continued overall economic
growth is contingent upon a healthy shoreline. Shore tourism alone
generates $20 billion in revenues and nearly 200,000 jobs.

A federal moratorium on oil and gas exploration applies to the Mid-Atlantic= and North Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf areas, both of which are adjacent to= New Jersey. = ; These areas are not candidates for lease sales until the next decade. In the letter, Codey requests that they be excluded from a draft proposed leasing program by the federal government.

Pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act, New Jersey has an approved Coastal Management Program, administered by the state's Department of Environmental Protection. The rules associated with this program address many offsh= ore activities, including oil and gas exploration and development.

The letter dated October 7, 2005 is below:

October 7, 2005

R.M. Burton, Director
United States Minerals Management Service
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20240

Dear Director Burton:

I am writing to reiterate New Jersey's staunch opposition to oil and gas le= ase sales in areas along our coastline. In response to your request for comment on the preparation of a five-year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil= and gas leasing program, I submit to you the following on behalf of my state.
My opposition to oil and gas development along New Jersey's coast is motivated by the potential for significant and lasting damage that such development could ha= ve upon the state's coastal economy. The commercial and recreational fis= hing industries, in addition to tourism and its related sectors, are critical elements of New Jersey's economic health. Further, New Jersey's coastline is a national treasure of great ecological value and its integrity is essential to the environmental health= of this State.
Activities associated with oil and gas exploration have the potential to
inflict great damage to water quality, marine habitats, and other important natural resources.

As you indicated in your request for comment, the federal moratorium on OCS=
oil and gas exploration applies to the Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic
planning areas, both of which are adjacent to New Jersey. These areas are not candidates for lease sales until the next decade.   As such, they should be excluded from the draft proposed program.

Pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act, New Jersey has an approved Coastal Management Program, administered by the state's Department of Environmental Protection. The rules associated with this program address many offsh= ore activities, including oil and gas exploration and development.
For additional information regarding the policies enforced by this State
pursuant to federal consistency provisions of the Coastal Zone Management A= ct, please see the Program's web site,
http://www.nj.gov/dep/cmp/czm_federal.html.

Karl Muessig, New Jersey's representative on the Outer Continental Shelf Policy Committee, is availabl= e to answer any questions you may have.

Very truly yours,

Richard J. Codey
Acting Governor
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2. Recreational Fishing Alliance Testifies at New York Assembly Hearing on Oceans Management
'NO to MPA's'

RFA's Deputy Director of Government Affairs Michael Doebley testified at a<= br> field hearing of the New York Assembly Committee on Environmental
Conservation on the health and the future of New York's ocean environment, which was held at Jones Beach State Park on October 20th.
Environmental groups are declaring New York fisheries are in a state of
crisis. Their answer is mandating No-Fishing MPA's (marine protected areas)= , whether they are needed or not.

RFA testified that fishery management law, such as the Magnuson Stevens
Fishery Management and Conservation Act and the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Fishery Management mandated that fisheries be rebuilt and managed and conse= rved properly. RFA also presented data demonstrating that numerous fisheri= es, such as black seabass, scup, summer flounder, and striped bass were in fact recovering or fully recovered.

"I think this information took the wind out of the sails of those who = were pushing for radical changes in how fisheries are managed, to say the least", said Doebley, who testified before the committee.

RFA declared its opposition to legislation pending in New York that is intended to lead to t= he establishment of No-Fishing MPAs, and urged the committee to vote favorably= on the New York Freedom to Fish. Additionally, RFA also opposed the formation of a New York task force or commission to recommend changes in how the state manages fisheries or activities that impact the marine environment.
"Yet another task force or commission would be a waste of time and mon= ey.
The United States Commission on Ocean Policy has issued numerous
recommendations in these areas. New York can now act upon the
recommendations in areas that are under state responsibility", said Doebley.
Environmental groups have pushed for legislation for a similar task force in other states but have not been successful. "We believe there is recognition on the part of the legislators that the proposed task forces we= re designed to be stacked with proponents of No-Fishing MPAs and nothing more = than attempt to give the appearance of government endorsement for this scientifically, socially, and economically controversial concept", sai= d
Doebley.

"We were pleased by how interested and engaged the members of the committee were in the discussion. Assemblyman Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst)= , a member of the committee, demonstrated yet again why he is the recreational fisherman's best friend in the NY Assembly", said Doebley.
- - - -
Peggy Bowen

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Peggy Bowen, Director ....... New: pegdiver@earthlink.net

Ne= w Jersey Cou= ncil of Diving Clubs

http://www.scubanj.org/

DAN News

R= 20;Giant Stride” is a new DAN publication aimed at the new or prospective dive= r. It’s first issue noted Jan 2006 is a thin but fact filled document wi= th several short subjects informing and encouraging divers. Feature stories included “ABCs of diving safety, Diver Etiquette, and Your Body and Diving” If you are an old and salty diver, this publication is a bit = too basic, but the messages are still good ones. If you haven’t seen a co= py, I plan to bring mine to next month’s meeting.

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DA Dive Log

Pie= rre gav= e an interesting report of his diving in Lake Mede while visiting= the DEMA show. He made several dives to wrecks, walls and pinnacles that are submerged in the lake. He reported that the Vis was a remarkable 50 feet and that he saw some huge catfish. There is a sunk= en sailboat in the 85 foot depth range that he was able to swim through. Apparently the depth of the lake can change by 20 or more feet from time to time. At this time the depth was down about 20 feet. =

He h= ad all intentions of diving the B-29 which lies at a depth of 200 feet plus, but t= he US Park Service is not currently issuing permits to dive it recreationally. Th= ere is an ongoing archeological study of that site. Pierre’s next trip is to Coast Ri= ca for a combined diving, hiking eco tour. We hope to get his report of this trip = at our next meeting. Go Pierre!

The = Pumpkin Carving Dive was a bust this year due to the bad weather on the morning of October 23. Horseshoe Cove had 30 mph gusts and white cap waves making it l= ess than fun for pumpkin carving. Rich, Tom, and Gary P did dive in the Shrewsbury River a little later that day howe= ver. As usual Norva, Edith, and Luke provided shore support. The Vis was around 5 feet, which was astonishing considering the ocean was a muddy brown color. The water temp was 56 degrees. Tom decided it’s time to = put more layers on since he got cold after 40 minutes. Rich and Gary claimed to= be hot in their wet suits and went back in for more diving.<= /b>

A= nyone who wishes to post a dive in this section should forward the report through= our website.

DA Dive Plan=

Shore Dives:

=

Boat Dives: Tom, R= ich, and Ian plan to personally ch= arter the Spring Tide and the Sea Lion out of Brielle for dives in 2006. Please l= et each of them know of your interest for next year’s boat diving to help them make arrangements.

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Other club members have indicated that they will be arranging chart= ers. As dates are set, they will be added to the calendar.=

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Boat Diving Requirements

Everyone please be advised that the following are required by Tom a= nd Ben to dive on any of their charters:

1)      Standard NAUI Waiver and Release signed before boa= rding naming Tom Gormley and Ben Gualano as Instructors and Divemasters.

2)      Logbook indicating nor= theast boat diving experience or arrangements to do guided dive with Tom or Ben.

3)      Pony bottle and regula= tor with pressure gauge or other suitable redundant gear.=

4)      Compass, wreck reel, s= afety sausage, safety whistle and power surface audible signaling device, cutting device as well as other mandatory scuba gear.

5)      DAN or equivalent insurance=

Members wishing to sell gear can post it h= ere!

(Send listing= to Tom)

Meeting Minutes

Divers Anonymous Scuba Dive Club

Mario’s Restaurant / 710 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, NJ

October 24, 2005

Members Present:=

Greg Collucci

Tom & Norva Gormley=

Mike Granado=

Al Nesterok<= /p>
Don Van Dyk<= /p>
Pierre Guibor

Janna Fabris=

Mark Russomanno<= /b>

Charles Soulas

Ian and Maurizia Fryer<= /span>

Mike Carlucci

Rich Mullen<= /p>
Ben Gualano<= /p>
Mike Lacatena

Mike Dox

Lara and Alexandra Padula

Guests

Arcadio Maldonado

The = meeting began at 7:30 p.m.

Treasurer:
Lara gave a check to Ian for the b= alance of our old checking account, Ian listed his disbursements which were to NJH= DA for our ad, and Tom, and Al for expenses. Ian will provide an exact figure = at our next meeting. We gave Lara a warm “Thank You” for her work = as our previous DA Treasurer for the past 8 years. Everyone got to see her treasure “Alexandra” who is now 9 months old. Snorkeling lessons are not far away, and she will likely be providing shore support soon.=

President:
Tom gave his report which included mention of: next meeting’s artifact and picture contest, the results = of the Pumpkin Dive, his dive and the condition of the ocean last Sunday. He passed around a copy of Northeast Dive News which had a report of Bob Sterner’s visit to DA. Peggy Bowen provided detail flyers of 5 Fathoms Marine Park in Ontario that were shared with the members. Our website has been updated by Mike Dox= to include a way to report your dive and to request a dive buddy. Guest Arcadio Maldonado was presented with his Scuba Diver card, and Mike Granado was presented with his Rescue card. Our latest member Wanda Maleszewski was announced.

Secretary:
Rich gave a report about the Dive Council which included a discussion of the monitoring of the subway cars and legislation discussion. He requested that someone can volunteer as an alter= nate delegate to the Dive Council, just come forward and you can attend the meet= ings to see what’s happening there and vote for our club on voting issues.=

Vice President:<= /b>

Al presented the latest on the DA = Holiday party, which is Jan 14 at the Branchbrook Manor. He and Norva were accepting payments for tickets. Tom added that prize donations will be accepted as we= ll as pictures of dive exploits taken throughout the past year. These will be displayed and projected the night of the party. Bring these to next November’s meeting.

Norva will look into our 2007 DAHP= at the Brownstone and provide more details as soon as she can.

Al requested that Ian send a depos= it check for $100 to the Branchbrook Manor for the upcoming HP.

Old business was discussed: Tom wi= ll provide information to Maurizia about a DA Logo blanket.<= /b>

New business: none

The meeting was adjourned at 820PM= .

DA member, Mark Russomanno, gave a= n interesting and detailed presentation of his visit to the DEMA show. Mark is a NAUI Cou= rse Director and mates on the Stingray out of Belmar. The subject of Pierre running to= the seminars and his photo was a highlight of the presentation. Everyone present enjoyed Mark’s story and insight of the status of the scuba business today. Thanks Mark!

Minutes submitted by Tom for Secre= tary, Richard Mullen

=

2005

Divers Anonymous Calendar

   Updated 12-31-04        =

Jan 2005

·         01/05: DA Planning meeting       &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; 7:30 p.m. at 6 Bros Diner Rt. 46

·         01/08: DA Ho= liday Party       &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   7:30 p.m. San Carlos<= /st1:place> Rest       &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; 620 Stuyvesant Av= e, Lyndhurst

·         01/31: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m

Feb 2005

·         02/01: Bottle Show, South River

·         02/20: Toms River Flea Market

·         02/28: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m. Tom and Ben= 217;s Boat Charters, Payment and Sign-Up, and    Kev= in Mc Murray presenting “The Empress of Ireland”<= /span>

Mar 2005

03/13: South Jersey Shore= Dive (?)

03/18~20: Beneath-The-Sea

03/28: DA Club Meeting 7:30= p.m. Dan Lieb presents “NJHDA update”

Apr 2005

·           &nb= sp;         04/03: Manasquan RR Bridge Dive, 8AM

·           &nb= sp;         04/06: Pool Dive for gear check and warm-up 9:15 p.= m. Clifton YMYWHA

·           &nb= sp;         04/17 Sunday shore dive in Belmar SRI

·           &nb= sp;         04/26: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m.       An= nual Dues and Officer Elections,

      Gary Gen= tile presents     =      “U-boats = of eastern US”

May 2005

Sunday shore dives

05/15: Pre-Memorial Day Picnic

05/23: DA Club Meeting 7:30= p.m.

June 2005

06/12 Boat dive, Spring Tide06/27

DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m. – Uplines and l= ift bags by Paul Duffy

Jul 2005

·           &nb= sp;         Local Shore Dives TBA

·           &nb= sp;         7/16 & 17 DA Weekend at Dutch Springs

·           &nb= sp;         07/25: DA Club Meeting

·           &nb= sp;         07/31 Sea Lion boat dive

Aug 2005

08/21: Tom – Spring Tide Boat Dive

08/28 Sea Lion boat dive

08/29: DA Club Meeting 7:30= p.m.

=

Sep 2005

·     &nbs= p;   09/04: Labor= Day Delaware Picnic

·         09/26: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m

Oct 2005<= /o:p>

10/31 Local Shore Dive Location TBA

10/23 Halloween dive at Sandy Hook

: DA Club = 10/24/7:30 p.m. Mark Russomanno o= n new DEMA equipment

Nov 2005<= /o:p>

·           &nb= sp;         Local Shore Dives Back Bay Nov 6, 10 AM

= ·     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; 11/28: DA Cl= ub Meeting 7:30 p.m. 2005 Artifact & Picture - St= ory Contest

Dec 2005<= /o:p>

·     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; 12/12: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m.

·     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; 12/18: Lizzie H Brayton 101 year anniversary dive, 2PM=
·     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; “Happy Holidays̶= 1;
·     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Friday, 12/31: Last Dive of Year 10AM-Shark River Inlet

Pink highlighted events are subsidized by DA dues=