NEWSLETTER September
10, 2002
Members may submit articles
for future editions. This is issue no. 18
Visit club web site at https://www.angelfire.com/nj4/divers/
DA Dive Log
DA Dive Plan
Equalizing Techniques and
more
August DA Meeting Minutes,
Unapproved
Labor Day Weekend at the Water Gap Dive-Picnic
Ash,
Ian, and Niyazi with his smile and spike.
photo
by Tom Gormley
On Sunday, September 1, 2002
several divers and picnickers went to the Delaware Water Gap on the New Jersey
side of the river. The day was supposed to be fair weather until later in the
day. Conditions started out reasonable, but within a couple of hours turned
rainy. The group had some good fun, diving, and food together, but didn’t stay
after lunch to have that second dive or sandwich.
Thanks to Rich, Connie, Leo,
Tom, Norva, Al, Rose, Christine, Herb, Ash, Nyazi, Don & girlfriend, Ben,
Mike, Ian and Bill.
Here is a copy of Rich
Mullen’s log entry:
Mon, Sep 2,
Yesterday’s dive at the
train wreck was fun. According to my recall
and dive computer, yesterday’s dive conditions were air 68F, water 70F, vis
8-10 feet with little or no current.
Bill and Rich formed one
dive team and we swam on surface from NJ to PA side. Once on PA side, we set
compass to SE 120 degrees and followed shoreline seeing aquatic plants, small
bluegills and an occasional small-mouth bass. Upon reaching the train wreck
site, we saw train boxcar, axles and steel wreckage about. Also, we found a
couple of beer bottles in the mud. After a few minutes of touring this site, we
headed back NE 300 degrees along shoreline, while looking among the rocks for
fish and bottles. Upon return to starting point, we ascended to surface and
swam back to NJ side on the surface. This was a fun and easy dive, even in spite
of the clouds and rain.
Background info about train
wreck – go to following web site to read article about the train wreck at
Delaware Water Gap: http://www.scubadiving.com/US/delaware.shtml
Richie
_____________________________________________
Next club meeting
is Monday, September 30, 2002.
Plan on attending and bring a guest to hear our guest speaker
Doug Campbell, who is the author of the book "The Sea's Bitter
Harvest." He will sign and sell
copies of his book at this meeting.
_____________________________________________
Peggy’s News
Peggy has returned from her lengthy tour of Nova
Scotia and thereabouts to the storm beaten area of Monmouth County, NJ. She had
an enjoyable time and loved the exchange rate.
WHAT:
International Coastal Cleanup 2002
WHO: coordinated locally by Alliance for a Living Ocean
WHEN: September 21, 2002
WHERE: Southern Ocean County, NJ
Media Contact: Jason Koralja (609) 492-0222
Saturday September 21, 2002 join in the largest one-day volunteer effort
in the world to clean up our marine environment, The International
Coastal Cleanup. The cleanup is coordinated in Southern Ocean County by
Alliance for a Living Ocean, a non-profit environmental organization
based out of North Beach Haven, NJ.
Alliance for a Living Ocean will also be hosting an underwater cleanup
of Little Egg Harbor Bay off of Beach Haven.
V O L U N T E E R D I V E R S W A N T E D !
for International Coastal Clean-up on Long Beach Island, LBI, NJ
Date: Saturday, September 21, 2002
Time: 8:30 to ~11:00 AM
LOCATION: Beach Haven, Barnegat Bay between the Little Egg Harbor
Yacht Club and Mordeci Island
Bay Site: Should be high tide!
Part channel ~ 8 ft, part island shelf ~ 2-3 ft
Contact: Jerry Pentlicky H 908.753.1811 W 908.423.3055
C 908.397.4737 GeraldP133@aol.com
For more information on how you can participate in the International
Coastal Cleanup in Southern Ocean County call Alliance for a Living
Ocean at (609) 492-0222 or visit the ALO Environmental Center at 2007
Long Beach Boulevard in North Beach Haven. Groups and divers
welcome! Office: Alliance for a Living Ocean
livingocean@worldnet.att.net
W 609.492.0222 F 609.4926216
According
to the NJ Register of August 19th, new lobster rules are now
in force for New Jersey.
http://www.scubanj.org/Lobster_reg_02.html
Please read them carefully.
Ed Bogaert and Trudy Stetter just attended the ASMFC meeting in
Washington DC on Monday, August 26th. Ed was acting in the capacity as
the Lobster Advisor for the state of New Jersey. We are fortunate to
have divers that take time to attend meetings like this.
And
don't try to catch the Lionfish (exotics now reported off Long
Island and other places on the Eastern Seaboard) with your hands
either - those spines are poisonous!
July 29, 2002
NEVER RELEASE EXOTIC FISH INTO STATE WATERS
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division
of Fish and Wildlife reminds aquarium enthusiasts that releasing exotic
(non-native) fish species into State waters does not benefit the fish
and most importantly, is detrimental to our aquatic ecosystems. In
fact, according to State law, releasing any fish species or its eggs
into any State water (public or private) that eventually flows into the
ocean is illegal without a special permit.
"People who keep fish as a hobby must realize
that for whatever
reason, releasing exotic species into local waters is illegal and a
serious threat to native species," said Division Director Bob McDowell.
Most fishes available for sale in pet shops
are exotic and are
imported mainly from Central and South America, Africa and Southeast
Asia. Such fish have a hard time adjusting to a different environment
and often cannot withstand the colder temperatures of our waters.
Released fish often become stressed and are susceptible to parasites and
other diseases. They can also become prey to native predators such as
larger fish, fish-eating birds or water snakes.
In the event released fish do survive and
reproduce, they can
be difficult to control or eradicate. They may cause changes in the
existing aquatic community through competition with native species or
predation on them as well as through overcrowding and aggressive
behavior. Exotic species may also affect the genetics of native species
by hybridizing with them. In certain instances, species may pose a
public safety threat, such as piranhas and freshwater stingrays.
Released species can also carry and spread diseases that our native fish
stocks are unable to fight.
The importance of not releasing exotic
species into State
waters takes on special significance with the recent discovery of
northern snakeheads in Maryland. The snakehead, a native of China, is
an aggressive predator with large teeth and has the ability to survive
on land for several days. The species was first discovered in a
Maryland lake last May when an angler caught one of the strange-looking
fish. Since then, the presence of additional snakeheads, including
juveniles (indicating successful reproduction), has been confirmed.
Authorities were able to find out that someone originally released a
pair of foot-long snakeheads into the lake two years ago and the
resulting population now poses the significant threat of disrupting the
local aquatic ecosystem.
Nationwide, snakeheads have been found in seven
states and the
Bush administration has announced a ban on U.S. imports of the fish.
Interstate commerce will be illegal and the government is also
discussing ways to help affected states destroy established populations
of snakehead fish. The fish has primarily been imported as a food fish
due to its excellent taste.
"The bottom line is that if you must
give up your pet, be
responsible and consider its well-being and potential impact on the
environment," McDowell said. "Never release it into the
wild."
For more information on euthanizing or placing a
pet fish,
visit the Division's website at www.njfishandwildlife.com.
The
NJHDA General Colloquium presents
A SLIDE PRESENTATION BY DR. RICHARD FERNICOLA
September 28, 2002 from 2 PM until 4 PM - Saturday
At the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory
Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Reservations ARE Required
Dr. Fernicola is author of "Twelve Days of Terror: A
Definitive
Investigation of the Infamous 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks"
He will be happy to sign books and field questions from the audience
following the 40 minute presentation.
Admission is $10 per person, $8 for NJHDA subscribing members.
A 50/50 raffle will be held to raise additional funds.
All proceeds benefit the NJHDA Archives Facility and Museum Project.
For information and reservations call or e-mail: (732) 776-6261
NJHDA@aol.com
New Jersey Historical Divers Association, Inc.
----------------------------------------
E-mail: mailto:pegdiver@monmouth.com
______________________________________________________________________
DA
Dive Log
Shore Dive Log
Shore Dives:
Sunday, September 1 at the Delaware River Water Gap.
Read the featured article above for complete details.
Saturday, August 26 the scheduled Shark River Inlet
night dive was canceled due to severe weather at the shore.
Thursday, September 5 Ben, Rich, and Tom went in
search of clear water at the Jersey shore, but couldn’t find any due to recent
rough weather. The water was very dark and miserable as far south as Lavalette.
It was then on to Sandy Hook where Horseshoe cove produced a divable 2 to 3
feet vis. The trio saw lots of marine life but no artifacts. Rich claims that
Tom and Ben used a motorboat to swim around with, but the two just kept going
instead of checking out all the rusted iron metal they were finding along the
bottom of the cove.
Saturday, September 7 at Dutch Springs found Rich M,
Tom, and Al with Niyazi, Samina, Deseree, Nick, Paul, May, and Tony doing some
training and fun dives. The water in September at the quarry is very nice for clear,
warm diving.
Sunday, September 8 Al and Tom were with the latest
newly certified divers: Paul, May, and Tony and veteran diver Ash. The water
was warm but Vis was only 3 feet. Lots of marine life was observed even some
tropicals. Norva was shore support and kept busy knitting dive booties.
Boat Dive Log
Boat Dives:
Sunday, August 18th saw the Scuba Too take Jamie,
Rich, and Al to the Sea Girt
Artificial Reef off the Manasquan Inlet. The three divers visited the Morania and
the Spartan. The Morania is a 230' long gas barge donated by the Morania Oil
Company and sunk on the Sea Girt Reef on June 6, 1988.
The Spartan is a tugboat that became a part of the Sea Girt Reef on January 31,
1986. She was built in 1957 in Chicago and was primarily use as a canal
tug, and later in New York Harbor. She is 85 ft long by 18 ft on the beam
by 18 ft high.
The Morania and the Spartan lie at approximately 70 feet. Both are intact
and well covered with mussels and marine life and are inhabited by lots of
fish. The divers collected mussels and toured each of the wrecks when the
goodie bags were full. Visibility was 25 feet or better on the bottom.
Saturday, August 17 on the Scuba Too saw Ian go out
on the Scuba Too to the Emerald wreck. The
dive was good, there was plenty of room on the boat with only two divers
aboard, but no artifacts were found.
Sunday, September 8, Ben, Mike, Jamie, Rich, Connie
and Leo all were rewarded by one of the best days to be out on the water. Seas
were a mere 6 inches. The divers went on the Scuba Too to the Emerald and the
Ida K. Temperature on the bottom was a toasty 65 degrees and Vis was 35 feet.
Lobsters, sea bass, and mussels were taken. Connie and Leo saw a large ray and
other interesting marine life. If conditions were this good for every boat
dive, the boats would always be full. Cherish days like this one!
An article by Allen Dekelboum, M.D.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR EQUALIZING EARS AND SINUSES
Middle ear and sinus barotrauma are the most common
injuries associated with exposure to increasing and decreasing pressure. Descent in the water adds approximately
one-half pound of pressure for each foot of descent and diminishes a similar
amount on ascent. According to Boyle’s
Law, as the pressure increases on descent, the volume of a gas in an enclosed
space decreases proportionately. As the
pressure decreases on ascent, the volume of the gas increases
proportionately. On descent it is
imperative that all enclosed air-filled spaces be equalized actively or
passively. On ascent, the increasing gas
volume usually vents itself naturally.
The greatest pressure and volume changes occur closest to the surface.
In order for equalization to be effective, the diver
should be free of nasal or sinus infections or allergic reactions. The lining of the nose, throat and eustachian
tubes should be as normal as possible.
If this is true, the following techniques are effective in reducing
middle ear and sinus squeeze.
1. Prior to
descent, neutrally buoyant, with no air in the buoyancy compensator, gently
inflate the ears with one of the methods listed below. This gives you a little extra air in the
middle ear and sinuses as you descend.
2. Descend
feet first, if possible. This allows air
to travel upward into the eustachian tube and middle ear, a more natural
direction. Use a descent line or the
anchor line.
3. Inflate
gently every two feet for the first ten to fifteen feet, and less frequently as
you descend deeper.
4. Pain is
not acceptable. If there is pain, you
have descended without adequately equalizing.
5. If you do
not feel the ears opening, stop, try again, perhaps ascending a few feet to
diminish the surrounding pressure. Do
not bounce up and down. Try to tilt
the difficult ear upwards.
6. If you are
unable to equalize, abort the dive. The
consequences of descending without equalizing could ruin an entire dive trip or
produce permanent damage and hearing loss.
7. If your
doctor agrees, the use of decongestants and nasal sprays may be used prior to
diving to reduce swelling in the nasal and sinus passages, as well as the
eustachian tube.
Decongestants should be taken one to two hours
before descent and last from eight to twelve hours. Nasal sprays should be taken thirty minutes before
descent and usually last about twelve hours.
Caution should be taken when using over-the-counter nasal sprays, since
repeated use can cause a rebound reaction with worsening of congestion and
possible reverse block on ascent.
8. If at any
time during the dive you feel pain, have vertigo (whirlies) or note sudden
hearing loss, abort the dive. If these
symptoms persist, do not dive again until consulting your physician.
9. Equalizing
Techniques
a. Passive - requires no effort.
b. Valsalva
- increase nasopharynx pressure by holding nose and breathing against a closed glottis (throat).
c. Toynbee
- swallowing with mouth and nose closed - good for ascent!
d. Frenzel
- Valsalva while contracting throat muscles with a closed glottis.
e. Lowry
- Valsalva plus Toynbee - holding nose closed, gently trying to blow air out of nose while
swallowing. - easiest and best method after practice!
f. Edmonds
- jutting jaw forward plus Valsalva and/or Frenzel - good method!
g. Miscellaneous
- swallowing, wiggling jaws - good for ascent!
August Meeting Minutes, (unapproved)
Divers Anonymous Scuba Dive Club
Mario’s Restaurant / 710 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton,
NJ / (973) 777-1559
August 26, 2002 - Monthly
Meeting Minutes
Divers Anonymous Scuba Dive
Club
Mario’s Restaurant / 710 Van
Houten Avenue, Clifton, NJ / (973) 777-1559
August 26, 2002 - Monthly
Meeting Minutes
Members
Present:
Rich
Bertoldi
Edith & Rick Farmer
Ian
Fryer
Bill
Golubinski
Bob
Jeffas
Fred
Marcus
Herb
Marvin
Connie
& Leo Mazur
Richard
Mullen
Al
Nesterok
Guests:
Paul Ward
Gary Prystauk
Jennifer LaRose
The meeting began at 7:30 p.m. - 15 of 34 active
members were present.
Executive Committee Reports
Treasurer Report / Lara Padula
Lara was on vacation.
Secretary Report / Rich Mullen
Past month’s newsletter and meeting minutes were made
available to club members by web site, sent by email and hardcopy mailed to
non-email members. Members present
accepted filed meeting minutes unread.
Vice President’s Report / Al Nesterok
Lakeland
Divers dive shop located at 34 Ridgedale Ave. in East Hanover will be giving
free scuba equipment and gear maintenance program on Sep 4th at 8:00
p.m. This presentation
will give details how to care for and maintain dry suits, wet suits, BCDs,
mask, fins, regulators, knives and all your scuba equipment. Experienced and new divers alike will find
this presentation educational and informative.
For further details, you can contact them directly at telephone number
(973) 887-0194 or visit their web site at http://www.lakelanddivers.com
President’s Report / Tom Gormley
Special Committees Reports
Local Dive Committee
/ Ben and Tom
·
This season’s last scheduled dive aboard the Scuba Too for Sep 8 is
fully booked.
·
Contact Ben for possible putting together dive outings aboard the Sea
Lion and OL’ Salty II.
Membership Committee / Tom Gormley
Welcome to new club member Bill Golubinski. Bill was recently open water certified by Tom
and is looking forward to gaining some local scuba diving skills. Jennifer La
Rosa, an old friend and rescue dive classmate of Tom, Norva, and Edith caught
up on enjoyable times from the past. We look forward to Jennifer diving with us
in the future.
T-Shirt Committee / Ian Fryer & Jamie Cacciatore
Ian gave out T-shirts to members who previously
placed orders. You can still get colored
T-shirts for $20 and hats for $14.
T-shirts come in various colors such as navy, royal, black, forest green,
red and gray. Jamie was on vacation and
will bring in her separate ordered T-shirts for next club meeting.
Travel Committee / Norva Gormley
·
Ben and Rich are planning to revisit
·
Ben, Gary, Mike, Paul and Rich are planning trip to St. Thomas for Nov
7~11. This is a great opportunity to
dive with Ben, who is an experienced diver who knows his way around this area.
·
Ian is thinking about putting together a live-aboard scuba trip in
2003. Contact Ian for details.
·
Al is thinking about putting together a dive outing in 2003 to visit
Lake Champagne. This location is famous
for clear cold water with lots of great wrecks.
Contact Al if you want to be added to his list of possible interested
divers.
Web Site Committee / Rick Farmer
Visit club web site at https://www.angelfire.com/nj4/divers/
This web site offers Calendar of Events,
Newsletters, Scuba Links and other cool stuff.
If members want to post timely
club or scuba related activities they are encouraged to use email group
mailing.
Old Business
Nothing new to report.
New Business
Nothing new to report.
Guest Speakers
Next club meeting is Monday, September 30,
2002.
Plan
on attending and bring a guest to hear our guest speaker Doug Campbell, who is
the author of the book "The Sea's Bitter Harvest." He will sign and sell copies of his book at
this meeting.
Minutes submitted by Secretary, Richard Mullen
2002 Calendar
2002
Divers Anonymous Calendar 2002
January 2002
·
1/12 - DA Holiday Party, 8:00 pm, San Carlo
Rest., 620 Stuyvesant Ave, Lyndhurst ·
1/14 – DA Planning Meeting, 7PM, 6 Bros Diner, Rt 46 ·
1/28 - Dive Club Meeting, Featured Speaker: Capt Ted Massotti, How to
become rebreather certified |
February 2002
§
2/16 Third Annual DA Ski Day §
2/17 Tom’s River Flea Market §
2/25 - Dive Club Meeting |
March 2002
·
3/3 NYC Aquarium Trip ·
3/20 Pool Check Out Dive, Clifton Y, 9PM ·
Beneath the Sea 3/22, 23, 24 ·
Dive Club Meeting 3/25 |
April 2002
·
April 14 Manasquan River Dive 10AM ·
4/29 - Dive Club Meeting Annual
Dues & Officer Elections
|
May 2002
·
5/18 - Memorial Day Picnic and Dive ·
5/20 - Dive Club Meeting ·
Boat Diving |
June 2002
·
6/8 Shark River Inlet Dive ·
6/16 Boat Diving Scuba Too ·
6/24 - Dive Club Meeting ·
6/30 Boat diving Scuba Too Mohawk Trip |
July 2002
·
7/7 Dual Wrecks, Long Branch
Shore Dive, 7:30AM ·
7/14 Boat Dive Scuba Too ·
7/27 & 28 Dutch Springs Camping and Dive Weekend ·
7/29 - Dive Club Meeting ·
Boat Diving |
August 2002
·
8/4 , 8/18 Scuba Too Boat Dives ·
8/24 Night Dive at Shark River Inlet & Sat Night Out ·
DA Day at Great Adventure ·
8/26 - Dive Club Meeting ·
Boat Diving |
September 2002
·
Labor Day Picnic & Dive, Sun, 9/1, 8AM ·
9/8 Boat Diving Scuba Too Mohawk Trip ·
9/28-29 Dutch Springs Diving ·
9/30 - Dive Club Meeting: Author, Doug Campbell presents his book
“The Sea’s Bitter Harvest” ·
Boat Diving |
|
October 2002 ·
Boat Diving ·
10/06 Shark River Inlet 8AM ·
10/27 Halloween Dive ·
10/28 Dive Club Meeting: Club members present: “Discussion of valves,
nitrox, & lights” |
November 2002
·
11/17 Fifth Annual Equipment Maintenance Workshop ·
11/25 Dive Club Meeting |
December 2002
·
12/16 – Dive Club Meeting 2nd
Annual Artifact & Photo Exhibit and Dive Story Contest ·
Happy Holidays |
Pink Highlighted
Events are supported by DA dues: food, prizes, subsidized admission etc.