DA ANCHORLINE

NEWSLETTER   November 16, 2004, Issue 45

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

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

Photographs can be viewed at the above noted website.

Editor: Tom Gormley

Contents

Next Meeting Notice

Peggy’s News

DA Dive Log

DA Dive Plan

PETA wants fish to have rights

October meeting minutes

DA Calendar

Next Meeting Notice

Monday November 22, 2004

Annual DA Artifact and Story Contest

At

730PM Mario’s Restaurant

710 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, NJ

New Guests are welcome to attend this meeting

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Peggy’s News

From Tony in Florida -

Treasured deep water reef showing signs of bleaching, coral disease
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA, Citizen Staff

November 7, 2004

Key West Citizen http://www.keysnews.com/

TORTUGAS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE — Eighty miles off Key West is the crown jewel of coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, a deep water patch reef called Sherwood Forest.

Divers talk about the reef as a holy place, because of its depth and abundant colorful coral colonies. The reef is home to large numbers of ornate corals heads that resemble mushroom caps. Divers call the reef an enchanted wonderland. Many divers are shocked that such a colorful and amazing reef is so close to Florida. The level of coral cover and the health far surpasses nearshore reefs.

The reef, which lies more than 90 feet below the water line, was dubbed Sherwood Forest because during early morning dives the corals look like a forest canopy. Low light conditions at these depths cause corals to grow in a flat, plate-like form. The reef is remarkably uniform, giving a false impression of a flat bottom. The coral runs parallel to the bottom, sticking out five feet above the bottom. The surface of the reef is a maze of valleys and intricate caves and tunnels between corals.

Scientists say the reef's location has protected it from human-caused degradation that has impacted other shallow, nearshore reefs in the Keys. However, recent dive trips have officials from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary growing worried. They have begun to notice stretches of dead and dying coral colonies there. The skin tissue around corals has died, leaving the skeletons of corals to be colonized by algae and other marine life, said Sanctuary Superintendent Billy Causey. Some of the coral has suffered from bleaching and white plague disease, he said.

Causey estimated healthy coral populations in the area several years ago to be about 40 to 60 percent of the total coral cover. That number has dropped to 20 to 30 percent, Causey said. Another neighboring patch reef called Little Bank also is showing signs of the same troubles.

"It's another sobering reminder of how far-reaching the impacts are," said Causey, who recently dove in the area. "We as a society have to rethink the way we look at the ocean. All of these marine ecosystems are connected .... When we put fertilizer on our lawns or near shore, eventually that is going to end up in the water."

Walt Jaap, who has been diving and studying in the Tortugas area since 1975, has watched as coral colonies have suffered at the hands of diseases. He can't positively point to a reason for the coral die-off in the area, but he fears bigger and faster dive boats and sea planes bringing more tourists to the Dry Tortugas and the Tortugas Ecological Reserve. More people means more stress for coral colonies.

"Staghorn [coral] used to be like a weed. There were parts you couldn't go to because it was so thick," said Jaap, a coral ecologist with Florida Marine Research Institute in St. Petersburg.

Causey fears the damage could be a result of the 2002 black water phenomena that extended from Florida Bay to the area near the Tortugas. In mid-December 2002, mysterious black water overtook the normally bluish green waters of Florida Bay and the Keys. Over the course of the winter, the extent of the water grew to encompass an area as big as Lake Okeechobee before subsiding over the last few weeks.

Scientists speculated that a red tide from the Gulf of Mexico connected with silica and other nutrient-laden water pushed out of the Shark River and into Florida Bay. The mixture created a large algal bloom. Many fishermen and scientists gave accounts about fish, sponge and coral deaths.

Red tides and unusual dark water events have occurred throughout history. But more nutrient-rich water spewing out of Florida rivers that run through subdivisions and commercial farm fields could be making such events more common and more intense.

Another black water event occurred last fall, and scientist with Florida Marine research Institute tracked the flow of black water from Charlotte Harbor to the Tortugas area. Heavy rains pushed nitrogen and phosphorus laden water down the Caloosahactchee and Peace rivers and into Florida Bay.

Currents push water to the Keys from as far the Mississippi River, making the Keys a depository of nutrients from farms and track homes from the Midwest. Water quality is important to all fish and coral species. Phosphorus and nitrogen can generate harmful algal blooms that can wipe out coral colonies.

Poor water quality can also hinder coral growth and expansion after major storms and hurricanes. Hurricanes can break apart coral colonies, in some cases spreading them to other areas where they can reconnect to the bottom and form new colonies. Poor water quality can stress corals and make it difficult for them to reproduce.

The remoteness of Sherwood Forest and Little Bank makes the area difficult for scientists to investigate coral diseases and deaths. Sherwood Forest stretches for miles, and there is only one mooring buoy for research vessels. Causey must rely on his own memories of what the area once looked like to assess the level of damage.

Satellites are also playing a more important role in determining where red tides and black water outbreaks occur. The satellites give locations and directions of currents and general temperature changes in the area.

Published on Sunday, November 7, 2004
http://www.keysnews.com/305893472277943.bsp.htm

E-mail:  pegdiver@earthlink.net

http://www.scubanj.org/

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DA Dive Log

Sunday October 31 saw Rich, Tom, Mike, the webmaster, Mike, the marine, Ray, and Brian dive the Shark River Inlet on a nice fall dive day. Tom took some more video while Rich and Mike collected sinkers and lures. The marine life was still plentiful though starting to diminish. Vis was an acceptable 3 feet while water temp was still in the mid 50’s. Surf was a bit too rough for the desired out and around, but the divers did the usual rock jetty wall tour avoiding fishing lines and entanglements.

John Kelly arrived too late to dive and Norva knitted a mitten for Luke.

After the SRI dive, the group headed to Sandy Hook for a Horseshoe Cove dive. One decent bottle was recovered, and some interesting marine life was observed. No big fish were seen.

November 4^th saw Tom and Mike, the marine, head to Sandy Hook for some river diving. The buddy pair spent a good hour in the water looking for artifacts and other things, but little was recovered. They did have a good finger tingling dive, however.

November 4^th saw Rich Mullen head out to San Diego for some diving with our California member, Angela O’Reilly. They did a Cove dive and some Coronado Island diving in the kelp forest. According to Rich’s account, there were hundreds of sea lions in the water during the dive. Hopefully he will give us a good account of the diving at this coming meeting.

DA Dive Plan

Sunday November 21 shore dive. Ocean wreck dive or Shrewsbury River, depending on conditions. 10AM.

Saturday December 18 2PM: 100 year anniversary dive of the Lizzie H Brayton, Pt Pleasant, NJ, conditions permitting.

Friday December 31 10AM dive. “The last of 2004”

Contact Tom or Rich if you are interested in diving any Sunday or Thursday at various sites throughout the area depending on water and weather conditions.

Boat Dives: Tom and Ben plan to personally charter the Spring Tide and the Sea Lion out of Brielle for dives in 2005. Tom’s dates are posted on his site www.safescuba.com  They are Sea Lion: Sunday, July 31 and Sunday, August 28, 2005. The Spring Tide dates have yet to be determined.

These dates are open to club members as well as Tom’s students so contact Tom or Ben for information about their dives. The sign up date will be anytime from now through our February and March 2005 meetings. Deposits of $30 will be accepted to hold a spot. Preliminary estimates per boat trip are $65 based on a full boat, not including a tip for the mate.

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

Boat Diving Requirements

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

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

2) Logbook indicating northeast boat diving experience or arrangements to do guided dive with Tom or Ben.

3) Pony bottle and regulator with pressure gauge or other suitable redundant gear.

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

5) DAN or equivalent insurance.

PETA Campaign Pitches Fish As Smart

By DAVID CRARY
.c The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Touting tofu chowder and vegetarian sushi as alternatives, animal-rights activists have launched a novel campaign arguing that fish - contrary to stereotype - are intelligent, sensitive animals no more deserving of being eaten than a pet dog or cat.

Called the Fish Empathy Project, the campaign reflects a strategy shift by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as it challenges a diet component widely viewed as nutritious and uncontroversial.

``No one would ever put a hook through a dog's or cat's mouth,'' said Bruce Friedrich, PETA's director of vegan outreach. ``Once people start to understand that fish, although they come in different packaging, are just as intelligent, they'll stop eating them.''

The campaign is in its infancy and will face broad skepticism. Major groups such as the American Heart Association recommend fish as part of a healthy diet; some academics say it is wrong to portray the intelligence and pain sensitivity of fish as comparable to mammals.

``Fish are very complex organisms that do all sorts of fascinating things,'' said University of Wyoming neuroscientist James Rose. ``But to suggest they know they what's happening to them and worry about it, that's just not the case.''

PETA, headquartered in Norfolk, Va., has campaigned for years against sport fishing, challenging claims by Rose and others that fish caught by anglers do not feel pain. PETA also has joined other critics in decrying the high levels of mercury or other toxins in many fish and the pollution discharged by many fish farms.

The Empathy Project is a departure in two respects - attempting to depict the standard practices of commercial fishing as cruel and seeking to convince consumers that there are ethical reasons for not eating fish.

``Fish are so misunderstood because they're so far removed from our daily lives,'' said Karin Robertson, 24, the Empathy Project manager and daughter of an Indiana fisheries biologist. ``They're such interesting, fascinating individuals, yet they're so incredibly abused.''

The project was inspired by several recent scientific studies - widely reported in Britain but little-noticed in the United States - detailing facets of fish intelligence.

Oxford University researcher Theresa Burt de Perera, for example, reported that the blind Mexican cave fish is able to interpret water pressure changes to construct a detailed mental map of its surroundings.

``Most people dismiss fish as dimwitted pea-brains. ... Yet this is a great fallacy,'' wrote University of Edinburgh biologist Culum Brown in the June edition of New Scientist. ``In many areas, such as memory, their cognitive powers match or exceed those of 'higher' vertebrates, including non-human primates.''

Chris Glass of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences in Massachusetts led another recent study, showing how North Sea haddock developed abilities to avoid trawlers' nets.

``There's no doubt that fish of all shapes and forms are capable of learning fairly complex tasks,'' Glass said. ``They can learn from their environment and experience.''

Yet Glass declined to endorse the don't-eat-fish appeals.

``We don't want to be caught between warring factions,'' he said. ``We're interested in helping the fisheries industry do a responsible job.''

To press their argument, PETA activists plan demonstrations starting next month at selected seafood restaurants nationwide. PETA also will urge changes in commercial fishing practices, for example proposing that trawler crews stun fish before cutting them up.

Friedrich questioned why there is popular support for sparing marine mammals - dolphins and porpoises - yet minimal concern for species like tuna, ``whose suffering would warrant felony animal cruelty charges if they were mammals.''

Fish-welfare rules would be a new realm for U.S. commercial fishermen. The National Fisheries Institute, which represents them, has pledged to help sustain fish stocks but its members have never faced cruelty regulations regarding their catch.

``It's irresponsible to discourage people from eating fish at a time when doctors and dietitians advise eating it twice a week,'' said institute president John Connelly. ``If anything, we should be eating more fish.''

Friedrich acknowledges the difficulty of changing long-held customs, but thinks his project is worthwhile. ``We'd rather go too far than not far enough,'' he said.

On the Net:

PETA campaign: http://fishinghurts.com

National Fisheries Institute: http://www.nfi.org   



11/16/04 16:05 EST

Members wishing to sell gear can post it here!

(Any sales of gear are subject to terms agreed upon by sellers and buyers.)

E-mail: Tom Gormley 50 cuft low pressure steel tank, Nitrox ready, new condition, Mercury 20 HP outboard motor, 2003 model.

Meeting Minutes

Divers Anonymous Scuba Dive Club

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

October 25, 2004

Members Present:

Greg Collucci

Maurizia Corrao

Mike Dox

Edith Farmer

Ian Fryer

Bill Golubinski

Tom & Norva Gormley

Mike Granado

John Kelly

Larry Maleszewski

Leo and Connie Mazur

Richard Mullen

Al Nesterok

Charlie and Lara Padula

Imre and Erica Papdi

Don Van Dyk

New Members:

Brian Maglio

The meeting began at 7:30 p.m. with 21 of 42 active members present.

Executive Committee Reports

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 were accepted unread.   

Vice President’s Report / Al Nesterok

Al reported updated progress for Christmas Party to be held on January 8^{th with} cost to run about $32 per person.  At last month’s meeting it was approved the club’s treasury would pay $10 per club member to help off-set cost.  Reserve this date and bring along your significant other as this night promises to be full of awards and lots of fun.

President’s Report / Thomas Gormley

Weather conditions permitting, we are planning to do some Thursday and Sunday shore dives in November and December.  Tom has already reserved Sea Lion for Jul 31 and Aug 28 for 2 tank dives.  One dive will be a near shore shipwreck and the other will be some other local shipwreck in the 80 foot deep range.    

Sun / Oct 31:   Shark River Inlet and Sandy Hook Horseshoe Cove Dives

Mon / Nov 22: Club meeting – Artifact and Story Contest

Mon / Dec 13:            Club meeting to be held early this month

Sat / Dec 18:   100 Year Annual Dive on the Lizzie H. Brayton

Fri / Dec 31:   Last dive of 2004 Dive Season

Sat / Jan 1:     First dive of 2005 Dive Season

Sat / Jan 8:     Christmas Party at San Carlos Restaurant, Lyndhurst

Other Activities

Local Dives

Contact Tom, Ben, Mike or Rich for possible Thursday and Sunday shore dives.

Remote Dives

Members are requested to consider and propose dive trips for the 2005 dive season.  Preliminary plans may include trips to St. Thomas, Florida, Maine and Bonaire.  

Membership

Welcome to new member Brian Maglio.

Web Site

We have a new webmaster Mike Dox to support the improvement and maintenance of our club’s 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 to Mike or Larry.  

Old Business

Ian still has some club hats and shirts available for $20 and $24.

New Business

Discussion was held about club paying for special invited guest speakers.  Dive industry legions and authors, such as Kevin McMurray and Gary Gentile offer presentations for $150 fee.  After some lively discussion, it was voted to authorize Tom to contact both these potential guess speakers to arrange for possible future club presentation.  It was also suggested that these guest speakers be asked if they could donate one of their books to be held for auction to help offset the expense to the club. 

It may be of interest to hear Kevin McMurray talk about his new book “Empress of Ireland” and Gary Gentile talk about his U-Boat, From the Ocean to the Sky, Great Lakes Shipwrecks, or President Coolidge presentations.

Guest Speaker

Tom and Rich gave presentation about recommendations for local cold water diving.  Mike, the marine, gave a report about the weekend diving in Maryland’s Havre De Grace and shark tooth hunting in Calverton Cliffs.

Minutes submitted by Secretary, Richard Mullen

2004 - 05

Divers Anonymous Calendar

   Updated 11-16-04          

Jan 2005 · 01/05: DA Planning meeting                       7:30 p.m. at 6 Bros Diner Rt. 46 · 01/08: DA Holiday Party                        7:30 p.m. San Carlos Rest                       620 Stuyvesant Ave, Lyndhurst · 01/31: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m	Feb 2005 · 02/01: Bottle Show, South River · 02/14: 4^th Annual DA Ski Day · 02/29: Toms River Flea Market · 02/28: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m. Tom and Ben’s Boat Charters, Payment and Sign-Up, and “Ocean Conservancy” speaker	Mar 2005 03/13: South Jersey Shore Dive (?) 03/18~20: Beneath-The-Sea 03/28: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m. Gary Gentile presents: “U-boats of the Eastern US”
Apr 2004 · 04/04: Manasquan RR Bridge Dive, 8AM · 04/14: Pool Dive for gear check and warm-up 9:15 p.m. Clifton YMYWHA · 04/25 Sunday shore dive in Belmar SRI · 04/26: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m.       Annual Dues and Officer Elections, Rescheduled. “White Shark Research Presentation” by Dean Fessler	May 2004 05/02: Tom – Spring Tide Boat Dive Sunday shore dives 05/15: Pre-Memorial Day Picnic  05/23 Early ocean shore dive followed by Scuba Swap Meet hosted by 1877scubausa Garfield Boy’s Club 05/24: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m., Tom and Ben discuss the making of “Shore Diving in NJ”	June 2004 06/06: Tom – Spring Tide Boat Dive 06/17, Thurs, 8pm Shark River Inlet, Avon, NJ 06/27: Ben – Spring Tide Boat Dive 06/28: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m. – Ian Fryer “Underwater Digital Photography”
Jul 2004 · Local Shore Dives TBA · 07/11 Tom-Spring Tide Boat Dive · 7/17 & 18 DA Weekend at Dutch Springs · 07/26: DA Club Meeting, Topic, “Vincent Sarullo & John Bandstra “The Northeast Shipwreck Museum”	Aug 2004 8/1 715am Dual Wrecks Dive, Long Branch 8/7 “Crab Dive” Belmar Shark River 08/15: Tom – Spring Tide Boat Dive 08/20 DA Movie Night “Open Water” 8/28 Sat. 8PM shore dive 08/30: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m. “Hyperbaric Medicine by Ken Capek”	Sep 2004 · 09/06: Labor Day Delaware Picnic · 9/16 Thursday Night Dive, 9pm, Shark River Inlet, Avon · 9/19 DA 2^nd Crab Dive, 10AM, Back Bay, Belmar · 09/27: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m. “Passaic River Sediment” by Walt Jaslanek
Oct 2004 10/31 Local Shore Dive Location TBA 10/17 10am Halloween dive at MRRRBr, Pt Pleasant : DA Club Meeting: Cold water diving, Havre de Grace report 10/25/7:30 p.m.	Nov 2004 · Local Shore Dives 11/21 · 11/22: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m. 2004 Artifact & Story Contest	Dec 2004 · 12/13: DA Club Meeting 7:30 p.m. · 12/18: Lizzie H Brayton 100 year anniversary dive, 2PM · “Happy Holidays” · Friday, 12/31: Last Dive of Year 10AM

Pink highlighted events are subsidized by DA dues