NEWSLETTER November,
16 2003, Issue 34
Members are encouraged to
submit articles, dive plans and dive reports.
Visit club web site at https://www.angelfire.com/nj4/divers/
DA Dive Log
DA Dive Plan
October DA Meeting Minutes,
Unapproved
Next Meeting Notice
Monday, November 24, 2003
Capt Dan Crowell and Author
Kevin McMurray will present:
“Finding and Filming the USS
Murphy”
At
8PM Mario’s Restaurant
710 Van Houten Avenue,
Clifton, NJ
Non-DA members are welcome but
need to confirm space
__________________________________________________________________
Press Release
"Shore Diving In New Jersey," a new book by Tom Gormley and Ben
Gualano explains the who, what, where, why, when, and how of local shore diving
to beginner and advanced divers alike. The authors have done their research by
diving throughout New Jersey for the past 12 years. Tom and Ben love shore
diving and are ready to share their knowledge. They share information
about some of their favorite dive sites in the book. Sites are included
along our ocean shore from Strathmere to Sandy Hook and inland from Round
Valley to the Delaware Water Gap. Many sites include historical wrecks like the
Dual Wrecks in Long Branch and the Western World in Spring Lake. Dives to find
marine life are included from the Longport Jetty to the Shark River Inlet.
Activities for divers are explained from bottle hunting to underwater
photography and for the thick skinned divers, winter diving!
Techniques are explained from shore diving buoyancy to surf entries and exits.
Tom and Ben share their techniques with their readers.
Tom says "This is an up to date tell all book for anyone who wants to
learn more about shore diving in the state." If you want to learn about
issues like: beach access, offshore dumping and more the authors provide their
opinions. Finding a dive shop or dive club can be done using the listings
included. The new way to locate a dive site entry point is to use a handheld
GPS unit. All sites have the GPS coordinates listed as well as sketches,
descriptions, and photographs to make it easy for divers to know where Tom
and Ben start their dives.
There are over 200 pages printed in black and white with a laminated color soft
cover. The book was printed by Lightening Press and is currently available by
contacting Tom Gormley through his web site www.safescuba.com where purchasing
details are posted or emailing him at gormleydmd@aol.com for more information.
Plans include distribution to area dive shops near you. Ask your shop owner to
contact Tom if the book is not at the shop.
Peggy’s News
Glenn
Arthur (NJ Dive Council Chairperson) sent this to me :
-----
NJ Looking To Turbines for Renewable Energy
From: http://www.northjersey.com/
By Colleen Diskin, Record Staff Writer, November 5, 2003
New Jersey is known for the smokestacks dotting its turnpike, the
malls consuming its suburbs, and the boardwalks along its shores. But
a new vista could be in the state's future.
Windmills could rise 20 or 30 stories tall in New Jersey's skies
sometime in the next five years, with spinning blades rising from the
ocean along scenic Cape May or turbines towering over the trees in the
mountains of Warren County.
The metal blades, perhaps as long as 100 feet, might spin lazily some
days, but unlike the windmills of poetry and paintings, the force of
their motion could produce enough electricity to power thousands of
homes.
Wind farms, as these nature-fed power plants are called, have dotted
the plains of Texas and the skyline of California for more than two
decades. But New Jersey, never considered a "wind-rich" state, has
relied mostly on coal and nuclear plants to fire its boilers and spark
its light switches.
Now, four different companies are eyeing the state with hopes of
building wind-fired electrical plants on New Jersey's soil and in its
coastal waters.
One of those companies - Community Energy Inc. of Pennsylvania -
recently received a state permit to build five 300-foot-tall wind
turbines at an industrial site in Atlantic City. Construction could
begin as soon as this spring. The state has promised to subsidize
another company if it builds as many as 15 windmills on Scotts
Mountain, a stretch of the Highlands in Warren County.
Meanwhile, two other companies are studying New Jersey's windiest
location - its ocean waters - in hopes of erecting the country's first
off-shore wind farm. One proposal calls for 335 windmills to be built
in the ocean several miles off Cape May. Others could spring up
offshore of Asbury Park or Great Egg Harbor
"States like New Jersey keep saying they want to move to a less-
polluting form of energy," said Dennis Quaranta, president of an
upstart company that has mapped five possible locations for wind farms
off New Jersey's shores. "Well you can't get much cleaner than wind
energy."
PUBLIC CONCERNS
The proposals face all manner of obstacles - from ecologists worried
that the blades could become bird Cuisinarts, to wealthy oceanfront
property owners crying foul over the change in their postcard views.
Although environmentalists have long urged a switch to a "greener"
energy, they worry about the lack of governmental regulations to
ensure that wind farms don't kill off aquatic life. They are also
concerned that construction in the Highlands could cause dangerous
runoff that might foul drinking water supplies.
Others ask what will happen to the fishing industry because fishermen
surely will be banned from miles of ocean if an electrical plant is
built in the Atlantic. And although Quaranta says his windmills built
miles out in the ocean will look "the size of a thumbnail" from
shore,
environmentalists worry the turning blades will turn off tourists.
"These are public lands and a lot of public issues are at stake,
including not just whether this ruins somebody's view, but whether it
impacts one of the state's biggest tourism economies," said Tim
Dillingham, executive director of the Sandy Hook-based American
Littoral Society.
Such concerns can divide communities. A battle has raged for two
years now in Cape Cod over plans to line the Nantucket Sound with wind
turbines. The windmills' aesthetics have displeased wealthy but
usually environmentally conscious residents such as Walter Cronkite
and the Kennedy clan.
But in New Jersey, the wind farm companies have strong currents
moving in their direction: New Jersey has set a goal that 20 percent
of the state's energy will be supplied by so-called renewable sources
by 2020. With an aging system of coal and nuclear plants that may soon
have to shut down or undergo expensive upgrades, the state is eager to
give potential solutions an airing.
AN ENERGY ALTERNATIVE
Wind energy has been used for thousands of years to sail boats and
power grain mills. The technology needed to harness the wind's energy
to create electricity on a large scale came onto the scene in the
1980s with the development of what's known as a wind-electric turbine
generator, or wind turbines. The three blades of the turbine rotate
between 11 and 20 times per minute, driving the shaft of generators to
produce electricity. The electricity is delivered to the region's
power grid through cables above or below ground.
The turbine's blades are designed so they can be slowed during severe
weather or hurricane-force winds, said Christine Real de Azua,
spokesman for the American Wind Energy Association.
Energy is stored up for periods of low wind, but a utility-sized wind
farm would never be a home or business's sole energy source since they
are connected to a power grid where electricity from a variety of
sources is shared.
"Wind energy can usually fit right into a region's power grid," said
Real de Azua.
The sudden rush of entrepreneurs looking to get into the wind
business in New Jersey is in part the state's making.
The Board of Public Utilities is considering stepping up its
timetable for renewable energy sources, pushing for 4 percent of
energy to be supplied by alternative means by 2008 instead of 2012.
Last year, the BPU solicited proposals for alternative energy
projects and awarded $11.3 million in grants. Potential wind farmers
received money for studies and the promise of years of subsidies to
offset the higher cost of producing electricity via windmills.
The BPU also issued grants last year to a Burlington County project
to convert the methane gas that rises from landfills into energy and
to another effort that would link solar homes together to create
additional power that could supply other buildings.
FARM PROPOSALS
The wind farm proposals that most alarm some environmentalists are
the ones from Quaranta's Long Island-based Winergy Inc.
Quaranta formed the company three years ago to secure permits for
wind farms at 15 locations from Virginia to Massachusetts. Of the four
companies vying for a chance to erect windmills in New Jersey, his is
the only one that has never built a wind farm.
A former restaurant owner and operator of a scallop farm in New York,
Quaranta is investing tens of thousands of dollars in the application
process because he thinks the ocean's gusts could become a profitable
energy source.
If he is successful at securing the needed state and federal
permits - likely a years-long process - he said he would most likely
find an energy company to partner with him or buy out his venture.
To date, however, Quaranta has officially filed for only one permit,
for a location in Virginia. But he says Winergy might make an
application to the Army Corps of Engineers for the New Jersey sites -
one near Asbury Park, another in Great Egg Harbor, and three off Cape
May - sometime in the next three months.
The proposals call for rows of wind turbines three to six miles
offshore. They would stretch for miles - at one of the Cape May sites
he proposes to put hundreds of turbines. Quaranta said the company is
proposing several locations with the plan to eventually settle on the
most feasible.
Environmentalists see danger in such a rush to secure permits for
wind farms in the ocean before state and federal governments have
established guidelines and studied how to protect birds, aquatic life,
and endangered species.
"When there is a vacuum of regulations and authority, there are
prospectors who will come out and try to lay claim," said Cindy Zipf,
executive director of Clean Ocean Action. "That's what is happening
here."
Bradley Campbell, commissioner of the Department of Environmental
Protection, said he expects environmentalists to challenge the permit
his agency issued three weeks ago on the Atlantic City wind farm
project.
And many groups say they will be poring over the details when
California-based Clipper Wind Power Inc. files a permit application
for the wind farm it has proposed near the Merrill Creek reservoir in
the Highlands.
"The Highlands are a major migratory pathway for birds, and then
there are also the concerns about runoff into the water supply," said
Eric Stiles, vice president for conservation for the New Jersey
Audubon Society.
The company has negotiated a lease agreement for the farm site, but
is still studying the wind and researching land-use rules, said
Clipper Wind representative Kevin Rackstraw.
But Clipper Wind, like the company planning the Atlantic City wind
farm, has already received a five-year pledge of subsidies from the
BPU. The subsidies are intended to pay the price difference in what
wind energy customers would have to pay above what traditional energy
sources cost - typically about 2 cents more per kilowatt hour.
ENVIRONMENTAL WORRIES
Some environmental groups object to the fact that the BPU awarded the
subsidies before more detailed studies of the proposals.
They are also unhappy with the agency's decision to give Atlantic
Renewable Energy Corp. a $300,000 grant to study the feasibility of
offshore wind farms in New Jersey.
Environmentalists argue such a study should be done by an academic
institution or a consulting firm, not by a company that will profit
off the venture. They also believe the study should look not just at
energy and environmental concerns, but also the potential economic
impact. Will the sight of Statue of Liberty-sized turbines or the
sound of the windmills turn tourists off?
The DEP's Campbell said the administration is likely to be wary of
approving any proposals for building in the ocean.
"How this affects tourism is a legitimate concern, and one that the
governor definitely shares," he said.
The six-month study to be performed by Atlantic Renewable is not
going to target specific sites in the ocean but instead look at "macro
issues," such as the financial feasibility and the impacts on the
wildlife and geology of the ocean, said Neil Habig, the company's
project manager.
Atlantic Renewable applied for a BPU grant last year to build a wind
farm off Island Beach State Park but has since pulled that proposal.
If the company decides on another location, they will first try to win
support of local officials.
"Obviously we're not looking to face a lot of opposition," Habig
said.
Not all environmentalists are raising red flags. Groups such as the
Sierra Club and New Jersey Public Interest Research Group argue that
the need to reduce air pollution generated by nuclear and coal-powered
plants should override aesthetic concerns.
"Smokestacks are not exactly a pretty sight," said Jeff Tittel,
executive director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "Personally, I find
some of those giant starter castles along the ocean far more offensive
to look at than a row of wind turbines."
Copyright (c) 2003 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Peggy
Bowen, Director, NJ Council of Diving Clubs
E-mail: mailto:pegdiver@monmouth.com
______________________________________________________________________
DA
Dive Log
Angela
O’Reilly took a trip to California and dove the Yukon. Divers can recall that
this ship was purposefully sunk as part of the artificial reef system off
California. She said that the ship was huge to dive on and that there were many
locations that divers can enter overhead environment while still being able to
easily see daylight and exit. The dive was in the 110-foot range.
While
in California Angela made some business deals with a dive shop to promote a
site at 270 feet where there is a sunken B-36 bomber. She may be available to
discuss this venture with the club at our December meeting.
Tom,
Rich, Angela, and Carl dove the Belmar side of the Shark River Inlet on Sunday,
November 9. It was a cold morning at 630am when the group met to do the dive.
The water was still quite warm, however. The divers had good Vis and did dives
from 30 minutes to 1 hour. There were lots of baitfish swimming in the inlet
and some of the divers saw some large eels in the rocks.
After
the dive the group went to Georges for a well-deserved breakfast.
DA Dive Plan
(Any
sales of gear are subject to terms agreed upon by sellers and buyers.)
E-mail: Rick Farmer stainless steel
backplate and OMS back inflation BCD, Sunto Cobra dive computer
E-mail: Tom Gormley 50 cuft low pressure
steel tank, Nitrox ready, new condition
Divers Anonymous
Scuba Dive Club
Mario’s Restaurant
/ 710 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, NJ
October 27th,
2003- Monthly Meeting Minutes
Members
Present:
Rich
Bertoldi
Greg
Collucci
Maurizia
Corrao
Rick
& Edith Farmer
Ian
Fryer
Tom
& Norva Gormley
Ben
Gualano
Mike
Lacatena
Fredrick
Marcus
Leo
and Connie Mazur
Gary
Mullen
Richard
Mullen
Al
Nesterok
Gary
Prystauk
Chris
Rollins
Gaby
Salib
Kiiri
Tietjens
Don
Van Dyk
Paul
Ward
The meeting began at 7:30
p.m. – 22 of 38 active members were
present.
Executive Committee Reports
Treasurer
Report / Lara Padula
These
funds are used to pay for expenses occurred running our club and to help offset
expenses for various club offered activities.
Secretary
Report / Richard Mullen
Last
months minutes accepted unread as they appeared in September’s Newsletter.
Our
club is a member of the
Vice
President’s Report / Al Nesterok
Annual Christmas Party will be held
at
President’s
Report / Thomas Gormley
·
Interested members are requested to attend our 2004 planning meeting to
be held before our scheduled December 15th club meeting. Or give your so-called “wish list” to any
Executive Board Member for consideration.
·
November 24 club meeting will have veteran tech divers guest speakers
Dan Crowell and Kevin McMurray. Dan is
the Caption of the famous dive boat Seeker and Kevin is the author of Deep
Descent / Adventure and Death Diving the Andrea Doria. Their presentation will be about their latest
adventures discovering and diving the USS Murphy. All club members are encouraged to attend
this special event and consider inviting guests.
·
Club members were asked to consider attending our last scheduled shore
dive of the season to be held on December 28th, weather
permitting. Last years dive held at
Other Activities
Local
Dives
Contact
Tom, Ben and Rich for possible Thursday and Sunday shore dives.
Remote
Dives
There was nothing new to report.
Membership
This
month we greeted new club members Maurizia Corrao, Gaby Salib and Kiiri Tietjens
from Tom’s open water scuba certification program. We are always looking for new members,
please ask your dive buddies and friends to come on out and join us for some
fun.
Web
Site
Visit
club web site at https://www.angelfire.com/nj4/divers/. If members want to post club or scuba related
activities they are encouraged to use email group mailing. If you have any club related photographs you
wish to have posted on the web, send Tom electronic copy.
Old
Business
There was nothing new to report.
New
Business
There was nothing new to report.
2003
~ 2004
Divers
Anonymous Calendar
Updated 10-102-03 thru May 2004
|
Jan
2004 ·
01/05: DA Planning
meeting 6:30 p.m.
at 6 Bros Diner Rt. 46 ·
01/10: DA
Holiday Party
7:30 p.m. San Carlos Rest 620 Stuyvesant Ave,
Lyndhurst ·
01/26: DA Club Meeting 7:30
p.m. “White Shark Research Presentation” by Dean Fessler |
Feb
2004 ·
02/01: Bottle Show, South
River ·
02/14: 4th Annual
DA Ski Day ·
02/22: Toms
River Flea Market ·
02/23: DA Club Meeting 7:30
p.m. Tom and Ben’s Boat Charters, Payment and Sign-Up |
Mar
2003
|
|
Apr
2004 ·
04/04: Manasquan RR Bridge
Dive, 8AM ·
04/07: Pool Dive for gear
check and warm-up 9:15 p.m. Clifton YMYWHA ·
Sunday shore dives ·
04/26: DA Club Meeting 7:30
p.m. Annual Dues and Officer
Elections |
May
2004
|
June
2003
|
|
Jul
2003 ·
Local Shore Dives TBA ·
07/13 Ben Boat Dive on Spring
Tide ·
7/19 & 20 DA Weekend at Dutch Springs ·
07/28: DA Club Meeting, Topic,
“Favorite Dives” |
Aug
2003
|
Sep
2003 ·
9/11 Thursday Night Dive, 9pm,
Shark River Inlet, Avon ·
09/14 Ben Boat Dive on Spring
Tide ·
09/28 Ben Boat Dive on Spring
Tide ·
09/29: DA Club Meeting 7:30
p.m. |
|
Oct
2003
|
Nov
2003 ·
Local Shore Dives TBA ·
Annual gear
maintenance workshop TBA ·
11/24: DA Club Meeting 7:30
p.m. Kevin Mc Murray & Dan Crowell on USS Murphy |
Dec
2003 ·
12/15: DA Club
Meeting 7:30 p.m. 2003 Photo Exhibit ·
12/28: Winter Shore Dive |
Pink highlighted events are subsidized by DA dues
Divers Anonymous first “read the newsletter” scuba quiz.
Originally posted many months ago.
1) Name 6 middle ear equalizing
techniques.
2) Name the national park that
was recently studied by marine biologists within a year after the federal
government declared its waters closed to fishing.
3) This man teamed with J
Cousteau to invent the first scuba regulator.
4) Name this local pioneer who
tested one of the first submarines.
5) What year did Europeans
first visit New Jersey?
6) What was the name of their
ship?
7) Who was the original captain
of the dive boat Seeker?
8) When did Divers Anonymous
hold its first official meeting?
9) These organisms are
primarily responsible for the deterioration of the Titanic.
10) A perfectly round balloon
has a volume of air equal to 1 cubic feet on the surface. A diver takes it
underwater in the Atlantic to a depth of 33 feet. At that depth what is the
diameter of the balloon measured in feet?
DA’s second “read the newsletter” scuba
quiz. Posted 10-18-2003
1) Name the founder of PADI
2) How many months has the
scuba quiz appeared in the newsletter?
3) Name the Sea Hunt episode
shown by Mile De Charles
4) Name the dive boat Tom and
Ben chartered in 2001
5) What is the recreational MOD
for air using a PO2 of 1.4
6) Name the wreck dove on DA’s
first dive picnic
7) How much does the salt weigh
in 1 cubic foot of salt water
8) What is the number 1 rule of
scuba diving
9) What is DA’s motto?
10) Who is the honorary member
of DA?
Rules
are: No member answered the first quiz, so no prize will be rewarded for that
quiz. You may give it a try for fun though.
First
member to email, telephone, mail, or communicate to Tom Gormley correct answers
to the second “read the newsletter” quiz at a passing level grade, by NAUI
standards, will be awarded a scuba prize to be determined by the judges, Tom
and Rich. Their decision is final.