December 2011
DIVE LOCALLY
WHERE IT REALLY MATTERS
Monterey Bay Magnificent Diving
Saint Somewhere 9 Saintly Dive Destinations
Colorado Diving with Altitude Volume 1 Issue 2 $1.95 US/$2.25 Canada
DECEMBER 2011
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D I V E D RY.
DIVE DUI.
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DECEMBER 2011
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Southwest Dive News
The complete resource for diving in the Southwest.
www.swdivenews.com
Publisher / Editor-in-Chief Rick Stratton rick@divenewsmag.com Production Manager IJ James ij@divenewsmag.com Graphic Designer TJ Pierzchala tj@divenewsmag.com Expo Coordinator Selene Muldowney expo@divenewsmag.com Accounts Manager Tove Chatham Advertising Sales Manager Julie Holley (360) 240-1874 x111 swsales@divenewsnetwork.com Circulation/subscriptions
360-240-1874
Dive News Magazine is committed to promoting the sport of scuba diving in the Southwest. We will present a practical, unbiased point of view regarding all aspects of the sport of scuba diving. We encourage readers to participate in determining the content of this publication by giving us their opinions on the types of articles they would like to see. We invite letters to the editor, manuscripts and photographs related to diving or diving-related business. Send us your stories and photos! IMPORTANT NOTICE The Dive News Magazine reserves the right to refuse service to anyone. The contents of Southwest Dive News are opinions of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor or its staff. The publishers and contributors assume no responsibility for any mishap claimed to be a result of use of this material. Diving is an adventure sport containing inherent risks. Improper use of diving equipment or diving techniques may result in serious injury or death. Readers are advised to use their best judgment in each individual situation. MOVING? In order to continue receiving your magazine uninterrupted, please notify Southwest Dive News when you change your mailing address. To ensure uninterrupted service, please contact us six to eight weeks before the change of address occurs. You can call us at 360-240-1874 PST or email us at editor@divenewsnetwork.com or mail at: Bedrock Publications P.O. Box 1494 Oak Harbor, WA 98277
IN THIS EDITION
◄ Cover by Bruce Watkins, Photographer
The central part of our diverse state has some exceptional diving, both from boats and from the shore. The amount and diversity of marine life here is mostly attributable to the upwelling of nutrients out of the Monterey Submarine Canyon. The area supports numerous marine mammals, fish, and an incredible array of invertebrates within Monterey’s kelp forests. Come see why a trip to Monterey is worth your time. Bruce Watkins is a photojournalist and dive instructor residing in Northern California. Bruce is a regular contributor to California Diving News, and hundreds of his articles and a thousand of his photographs have appeared in various national and international publications. He is the author of “A Diver’s Guide to Monterey County” and “A Diver’s Guide to Northern California”, available at Amazon and at your neighborhood dive shops: www.saintbrendan.com/books.html.
Monthly Columns Publisher’s Note.................................4 Incoming Mail.....................................5 Southwest Hot News.........................6 Southwest Activities............................7
Regional News................................8-9 Gear Box.....................................22-23 Tropical Dive Directory................22-23 Local Dive Directory....................22-23
LOCAL DIVE DESTINATION 10 Monterey County’s Magnificent Diving
What you get when you have a whopping 3,427 miles of shoreline sparsely populated with huge forests of redwood trees and miles of sandy beaches? The answer is one of the best dive sites the state of California has to offer…Monterey County. A great place to visit for its natural beauty both above and below the water Monterey isn’t just a playground of the rich and famous; it’s also a great place to dive into adventure. By Bruce Watkins
SOUTHWEst DESTINATION 14 Colorado – For Divers with Altitude Colorado is the land of scuba divers with altitude. The highest dive sites her break surface records at just around 12 thousand feet above sea level. Join writer Mike Hughes as he takes us on a tour of the lakes and waterways of the Mile High state. Join Mike for Turquoise Lake where folks still find stones reminiscent of the days when turquoise was mined here and as he climbs to Dillion Lake and dives at 9,017 ft. above sea level. By Mike Hughes
TROPICAL DESTINATIONS 18 Saint Somewhere - 9 Saintly Dive Destinations Caribbean diving encompasses more than the incredible creatures that populate the blue waters; it is literally a world all its own with more ocean life to explore than anywhere else in the world. Join writer Mike Hughes as he puts a list on the table for your consideration of 9 islands. Whether your favorite dive fetish is wall dives, wreck dives, photography, boat dives, or pristine shore dives, one of these saintly islands should not only satisfy your diving needs, but it’s probably calling out to you right now. By Mike Hughes
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
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W
elcome to the December edition of Southwest Dive News. At the time of this writing, we had just returned from the annual DEMA show in Orlando, Florida. This year’s DEMA show was a mixed bag. On one hand, show attendance was, in my estimation, at an all-time low; only 5% of the dive retailers made the annual pilgrimage. However, amazingly, nearly every booth reported strong results. For us, the show was fantastic. We had a terrific opportunity to interact with the divers and dealers. It was great to get feedback on our NEWEST magazine and regional approach. For the most part, the feedback was great. I do admit there were not many divers from the Southwest who made the trek, but those who were there seemed enthusiastic. The readers we spoke with love our local approach, support for dive clubs and focus on local diving. Since we were in Florida anyway, we sent our Southeast Regional Sales Manager, Keath Allen, to check out the local hot spots, specifically cave country. Keath had a great time. Stay tuned for Keath’s article online soon! After Keath visited cave country he traveled up to Clearwater Springs for the DUI DOG Rally event. We co-sponsored the entire DUI DOG Rally tour across the United States this year, attending all 18 events. At each event we handed out magazines, met divers and made new “friends” on facebook. I just returned from a very successful DOG Rally in Terrill, Texas. I had a great time attending the event and meeting our Texas readers.
Photo courtesy Keath Allen
As the dive season winds down and the holiday season approaches, we are grateful for all our friends in the dive industry. We are now bonded with the folks at DUI, the great folks at DAN (Divers Alert Network) and the DOGs themselves, but we are especially grateful for the local dive retailers. We know the sacrifices in owning a small business, and we appreciate the time and effort you put forth to advocate for the local divers. And, of course, we are grateful for our local divers. Your commitment to the sport and your love of scuba diving inspires us. What an amazing year for all of us! This summer/fall season has reinforced the importance of relationships in life and business for me, and I’ve been reminded the most important things in life are the people (and businesses) who are there for you! Happy diving. facebook.com/Rick.Stratton1 twitter.com/swdivenews rick@divenewsnetwork.com
Rick
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Have you seen us on fb? facebook.com/swdivenews Dear Rick I want to congratulate you on your latest creation – last month’s Southwest Dive News, Inaugural Edition, was a breath of fresh air to this land-locked diver. Loved the magazine, although there was no Arizona content? Come on, we have some great diving in Arizona.. Seriously, we do. Keep up the good work and hopefully you will see our great state soon. Your friend, Bob “Stubby” Stubbs Phoenix, AZ
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Thanks for the note and kudos on the magazine. It is a beginning. As we grow in print and online content, we It’s a pas sion will add pages and distribution to the magazine. You will be amazed at what we can grow into. I do know about the diving in Arizona. We are doing a feature on your fine state in a few months, I would love to have you and other local divers submit some content for it. Please email me - Rick@DiveNewsNetwork.com We would love to have you and other local divers help out. Happy Diving,
A C AVE DIV
Rick
EDITION
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Diving D
Dear Stubby,
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
ING NUT
facebook.com/Rick.Stratton1 twitter.com/swdivenews rick@divenewsnetwork.com
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HOT NEWS
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Voters Needed For Sanctuary Advisory Council
Food Drive & Underwater Pictures with Santa
Interested parties are being asked to be a part of the Sanctuary Advisory Council. Community members occupy the voting seats of the advisory council to facilitate communication between sanctuary staff and the diverse groups of people interested in how sanctuary resources are managed. They are currently accepting applications for six different seats on the council: Recreational Diving, Oil and Gas Operations, Recreational Fishing, Commercial Fishing, Education, and Research. They are asking community members to please consider this opportunity to help manage the marine resource called Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Application materials are now available on the sanctuary website. All applications are due by December 9, 2011. For more info visit flowergarden.noaa.gov/advisorycouncil.
Santa visits Dive Addicts every year, and this year he will be here December 10 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Dive Addicts in Draper, Utah. Come and get your picture with him underwater and let him know about all the SCUBA diving equipment you want for Christmas. In years past over 100 people have shown up with donations for the food bank. The event is FREE if you bring a donation for the Utah Food Bank. Certified, not certified, young and old - come get your pictures underwater with Santa! Children must be at least 10 years of age, if under 18 years of age, a parent’s signature is required. For more info visit www.diveaddicts.com.
Ocean Defenders Alliance – Dealing with Ghost Gear
31st Annual Avalon Underwater Cleanup
A significant amount of “Ghost Gear” - lost and abandoned lobster/ crab pots, nets, and lines - is generated annually by commercial fishing operations off the coast of California. The ghost gear polutes and degrades water quality and poses lifethreatening risks to marine wildlife (mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates) who can become needlessly entrapped and die. Ghost gear can seriously damage vital reef structure during storms and threatens fragile kelp beds by unbalancing the food chain. Drifting lines and nets near the surface pose a navigational hazard to boaters and can possibly entangle and drown ocean surfers, swimmers, and scuba divers. With the endorsement from the California Department of Fish & Game and local authorities, the Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA), a dedicated team of technical divers is striving to make Orange County’s coastal waters safer and cleaner for marine wildlife as well as humans by permanently removing ghost gear and checking for illegal fishing activities. ODA is currently seeking members and funding to help with their efforts. For more info visit www.oceandefenders.org.
Year End Dive-A-Long at Blue Lake
Join Absolute Scuba and Neptune Divers for their last dive-a-long of the year at Blue Lake December 3. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and divers are to meet at the lake. Directions to the lake are available on the website at neptunedivers.net/2011/11/ year-end-dive-a-long-blue-lake.
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The 31st Annual Avalon Underwater Cleanup will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 at Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island in California. This is a special dive to clean up the Avalon Harbor and is sponsored by the Catalina Island Conservancy. The Roddenberry Dive Team will be teaming up with Power Scuba for the Avalon Underwater Cleanup event. Besides offering divers the opportunity to dive in Avalon Harbor, the event brings together a large number of people who share common interests – diving and Catalina Island. Last year there were more than 500 divers who had a great time retrieving trash and lost items from the harbor as well as celebrating the event. For more info visit www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego or www. catalinaconservancy.org or www.roddenberrydiveteam.com.
Catalina Island U Offers Marine Biology
Cal State Long Beach students, and those of other colleges, can now take the Marine Biology Semester program getting the chance to study and live on beautiful Santa Catalina. Students will have the opportunity to study the clear waters and rugged landscape of Santa Catalina Island. This is an intense, hands-on, 15-week learning experience, qualified students from any university, not just CSU, can not only study, but live at USC’s Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, which is located in a small cove at the Catalina isthmus near the community of Two Harbors. The program, coordinated through the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI), is a non-profit consortium of 11 institutions, including eight CSU campuses, plus California State OSI members. The schools include, Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge, Bakersfield, Channel Islands, San Bernardino, San Marcos and Cal Poly Pomona, plus USC, UCLA and Occidental College. For more info visit, scmi.us/category/oceanstudies-institute/csu-marine-biology-semester, or you can reach out to Tom Chavez at 310/519-3172 or osi.catalina@gmail.com.
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DIVE ACTIVITIES
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‘Hero’ wins $10,000 for Saving Husband’s Life on Vacation
“She definitely proved herself and it was great to see her take all her skills and put them together,” said Bruce Hill of his wife, Rebecca Fischer, after he suffered a burst appendix while on their honeymoon. At the tail end of a wedding and honeymoon spent scuba diving and exploring in Fiji and New Zealand in September 2010, Hill suffered a burst appendix, a chaotic and overpriced cab ride to a closed clinic and, finally, emergency surgery. To save his life, Hill’s bride, Rebecca Fischer, had to scramble to find resources and rely on the kindness of strangers, including a barber shop customer who, mid-haircut, volunteered to drive the couple to an open clinic. After the surgery, Fischer nursed her husband back to health while working out all the details to get her husband medical clearance to fly home. For her heroics, Fischer has won a $10,000 “Hero’s Vacation” in Travel Guard North America’s “World’s Unluckiest Traveler 2: The Rescue” contest. Travel Guard North America, a travel insurance company, launched its inaugural competition for the dubious honor in 2010. For more info visit overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com.
Sales Opportunity for Proven Dive Travel Professional
San Diego based company has a great opportunity for a dynamic, energetic and hungry inside dive travel agent professional who has a unique ability to sell worldwide scuba diving vacations and adventure travel. Candidate will possess a unique blend of sales and customer service. Company is looking for a self-motivated individual that is highly experienced in all aspects of dive travel, extremely proficient in worldwide airline bookings and has a deep passion to serve the travel needs of groups, dive stores, associations, individual divers and their companions. This dynamic “Closer” will manage existing in-house accounts, handle new leads daily and monitor the social media avenues for additional lead opportunities. Must have a proven high percentage of closing sales. This sales position is full time inside sales with base salary plus commissions. If you fit this profile and want to join a successful team of agents, please email your resume to info@stv.travel
December
Dec 1: University SCUBA Club at UT Austin, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., SSB 4.212, Austin, TX. www.utscuba.com Dec 1: Sea Ventures Dive Club Meeting, Election of Board Members, 7 p.m., Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant, Fullerton, CA. www.seaventuresdiveclub.com Dec 14: Lunar Fins Dive Club Christmas party. Seabrook, TX. www.lunarfins.com Dec 3: Houston Underwater Scuba Club Holiday Party. Members only, St. Arnolds Brewery, Houston, TX. www.hucscuba.org Dec 3-4: DUI Dog Rally & Demo Tour, Casino Point, Catalina Island, CA. www. dui-online.com Dec 3: Northern Nevada Dive Club Christmas Meeting, Casa de Ollom, Please check the website for more information, www.nndiveclub.com Dec 3: Sea Ventures Dive Club Meeting, Woods Cove in Laguna Beach Fullerton, CA. www.seaventuresdiveclub.com Dec 5: Houston Underwater Photographic Society, 7 p.m. Christmas Party and Best of HUPS Photo Contest including the Creative Category. Bayland Community Center, Houston, TX. www. hups.org Dec 6: Bay Area Divers Board of Director Meeting, 7 p.m., La Brisa Mexican Bar & Grill, League City, TX. Public and BAD members welcome. www. bayareadivers.org Dec 6: The Sea Divers Club Meeting, 7 p.m., Round Table Pizza, Torrance, CA. www.seadivers.org Dec 7: Diving Rebels Scuba Club 6:30 p.m., Humperdink’s, Arlington, TX. www. divingrebels.org Dec. 8: City of Houston Underwater Mariners Holiday Party VII. www. chumclub.org Dec 10: Finz Scuba Club Coffee Break, Café Brazil, Dallas, TX. www.finz.org Dec 10: Diving Rebels Scuba Club Christmas Party, Lake Arlington, Arlington, TX. www.divingrebels.org Dec 11: Finz Scuba Club Board Meeting, 5 p.m. Cantina Laredo, Dallas, TX www.finz.org Dec 11: Finz Scuba Club Sunday Meet & Greet, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., Cantina Laredo, Dallas, TX. www.finz.org Dec 14: Lunar Fins Dive Club, 7 p.m., Social hour at 6:30 p.m., Mario’s in Seabrook, TX. www.lunarfins.com Dec 17: Bottom Time Dive Club Christmas party. Waco, TX. www.btdc.org Dec 17: Scubaland Adventures Dive Club Christmas Party. www.scubaland.com Dec 17: Sea Ventures Dive Club Dive, White Point in San Pedro, 7 a.m. Fullerton, CA. www.seaventuresdiveclub.com
January
Jan 3: Bay Area Divers Board of Director Meeting, 7 p.m., La Brisa Mexican Bar & Grill, League City, TX. Public and BAD members welcome. www. bayareadivers.org Jan 5: Sea Ventures Dive Club Meeting, Election of Board Members, 7 p.m., Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant, Fullerton, CA. www.seaventuresdiveclub.com Jan. 14-15: Adventures in Travel Expo, Long Beach Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA. www.adventureexpo.com Jan. 14-15: Adventures in Travel Expo, Long Beach Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA. www.adventureexpo.com Jan 25: Diving Rebels Scuba Club, Lake Arlington, Arlington, TX. www. divingrebels.org Jan 25: Bay Area Divers Board of Director Meeting, 7 p.m., and Board of Director election 7:30 p.m. La Brisa Mexican Bar & Grill, League City, TX. Public and BAD members welcome. www. bayareadivers.org Jan 26: University SCUBA Club at UT Austin, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., SSB 4.212, Austin, TX. www.utscuba.com
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news and events
REGIONAL NEWS
Governor signs shark fin ban S
hark fins will no longer be sold or used in food in California starting in 2013. A battle that started out small with a handful of citizens was finally won when California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law banning the possession, sale and distribution of imported shark fins. “The practice of cutting the fins off living sharks and dumping them back in the ocean is not only cruel, but it harms the health of our oceans,” Brown reportedly said. “Researchers estimate some shark populations have declined by more than 90 percent, portending grave threats to our environment and commercial fishing. In the interest of future generations, I have signed this bill.” California follows on the heels of Hawaii, Oregon and Washington who all have similar laws. The bill, AB376, was introduced by Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Sunnyvale who had been in close contact with divers from all over the state who supported the law. The new law will forbid the importation of any shark fins starting Jan. 1. Those shop owners and dealers who may already have fins in
File Photo
File Photo
the state have to get rid of them by July 1, 2013. Shark fins are used to make shark fin soup, an expensive Chinese delicacy popular at special events. The bill garnered wide spread support throughout the state despite some opposition from eateries. There was also a controversy split with Asian American members of the Legislature. Some representatives felt there were some racist undertones within the law even though it was introduced by Fong, who is Chinese American. There were many who felt the law should have covered the entire shark not just the fins. However, proponents of the new law say a ban on any part of sharks is in the works. Those supporting the bill argued shark populations are being decimated by fishing because of the valuable fins. The fins tend to sell for hundreds of dollars per pound. Those in support of the new law are hoping the ban will help to curb what is known as finning, where the fin and tail are cut off and the shark is dumped back into the ocean where it dies. For more info on this issue visit www. legislature.ca.gov.
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Dive Locally - Where It Really Matters
REGIONAL NEWS
News and events
Earn your Scuba Merit Badge
T
he world of scuba diving is the ultimate adventure. Learning to Scuba dive is a life changing experience and a challenge every Boy Scout should take or at least that’s what the Boy Scouts of America believes. The popularity of scuba diving is growing worldwide so the Boy Scouts have created the Scuba Merit Badge, an opportunity for young men and their families to dive into the underwater realm and help realize their ultimate scouting objectives. The Academy of Scuba in Phoenix, AZ has developed one of the most progressive programs for Scouts in the scuba industry. ScubaforBoyScouts.com is a great resource for scouts and scout leaders looking to earn
their merit badge while working with ASP. It doesn’t matter whether you live in Arizona or outside of the state, ScubaforBoyScouts. com has information and programs to help your troop earn the Scuba Merit Badge and become lifelong scuba divers. The Scuba Merit Badge is one every Scout will love earning. However, the fun and adventure does not end with a new honor during a troop award ceremony. The achievement will last a lifetime. In the end, the Scuba Merit Badge will also result in an Open Water Scuba certification. This is the first step into an endless world of new experiences, adventure and fun. After Scouts are certified, they will have the ability to go scuba diving in a variety of environments and continue their education as they progress through scouting. The Scuba Merit Badge and Open Water Diver Certification have four parts.
Hawaii Seasport Divers 800.685.5889 www.seasportdivers.com
Throughout the Scuba Diving Merit Badge Program, Scouts learn the fundamentals of diving including dive equipment, safety protocols, and techniques. Virtually anyone who is in good health, reasonably fit, and comfortable in the water can earn an Open Water Diver certification. Junior Open Water Divers start at the early age of 10, although special requirements are mandated for minors under 15. So come out and get the Scuba Diving merit badge! For more info visit www.scubaforboyscouts.com.
File Photo
Land of Aloha Kaui
Capt Charley Neal's Scuba Shack 877.213.4488 www.scubashack.com
Maui
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Dolphins and Manta Rays and Reefs -
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We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.
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Monterey Bay
cALIFORNIA SOUTHWEST DESTINATION
Monterey County’s Magnificent Diving
acle.
’s Pinn of Eric e s a b . e atkins d at th n foun esy Bruce W e t f o e ish ar hoto court Rockf P
Photo courtesy NWDN archive by Bruce Watkins
C
alifornia is a big state some 840 miles long with a whopping 3,427 miles of shoreline. The north is sparsely populated with huge forests of redwood trees, while the south is famous for its sprawling cities, pop culture, and miles of sandy beaches. Monterey County sits nearly in the middle of the state and is a great place to visit for its natural beauty, both above and below the water. The Monterey area was first settled by Native Americans, then Spanish Rancheros, and later became a center of farming and fishing after annexation by the United States. The bounty of the sea was harvested in the form of whales, abalone, squid and fish. During the early 20th century, sardines were harvested in record numbers, and these spirited times gave inspiration for John Steinbeck’s novels Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday. After all the sardines were put into cans, Monterey drifted into a sleepy town with a bit of commercial and recreational fishing, and tourism. The sleepiness began to erode in 1984 with the opening of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The aquarium is a shrine to the biodiversity of Monterey Bay and now attracts 1.8 million visitors per year. Local underwater geography is the principal reason why Monterey supports such an incredible density of both marine and terrestrial life. The continental shelf here is particularly narrow. In fact,
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the Monterey Submarine Canyon comes very close to shore and in several places 1000 ft. deep water may be found within 200 yards of shore. This deep water allows pelagic animals to be found near shore, but more importantly it provides near-shore life access to deep-water nutrients, and supports an enormous diversity of life from tiny krill to enormous whales. Monterey’s most conspicuous animals are its marine mammals— elephant and harbor seals, California sea lions and sea otters. I say conspicuous since they always seem to find a way to announce their presence. Elephant seals trumpet, sea lions bark, and you can always count on otters to be found rap-tap-tapping as they use a rock or other tool to break open a clam or abalone. Sea otters are easily observed along the entire Cannery Row, sea lions at the Breakwater, and in winter, elephant seals at Ano Nuevo and San Simeon State Parks. From late December through May you can watch gray whales during their 3000-mile migration to and from the Artic and the lagoons of Baja. Humpback and blue whales feed in the rich waters spring through fall. While marine mammals are cute, Monterey’s invertebrate life is the most colorful. In most areas every rock is covered with sponges, anemones, and tunicates of outrageous colors. California is home to well over 200 species of nudibranch, and most of these are found in Monterey. Most are simple-structured, gregariously colored dorids,
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SOUTHWEST DESTINATION
CHANNEL iSLANDS ©2011. Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. All rights reserved.
Take a peek at a penguin. See eye-to-eye with a sea turtle. Spot a hammerhead shark. Come discover your newest love at “The Open Sea.” Two-day tickets for the price of one available at local hotels.
our Ask y p for Sho Dive nalox the A O EIIC
Take the plunge at montereybayaquarium.org/love
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Dive Mag.11.11.Final 1
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We support our local dive shop - without them we will not have a dive industry.
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cALIFORNIA MAGNIFICENT DIVING
Local Dive Businesses Local Dive Shops Aquarius Dive Shop · 831-375-1933 Bamboo Reef Enterprises · 831-372-1685 Glenn’s Aquarius II Dive Shop 831.375.660 www.aquarius2.com Seven Seas Scuba/Monterey Bay 831.717.454 www.sevenseasscuba.com/monterey
Local Dive Boat Charters Beachhopper II · 408-463-0585 Escapade · 831-465-1185 Monterey Express · 831- 915-0752 Sanctuary Charters · 866-737-DIVE (3483) Silver Prince Dive Charters · 831-204-0539 Twin Otters Inc · 408-394-4235
Listing courtesy of
MontereyDiveBoats.com Check out their web site for more info.
but the fashion leaders are the intricate and colorful aeolids and dendronidoids. All of these animals are found in enormous beds of giant kelp in normally 55° F water. A good place to begin your visit of Monterey is the historic Cannery Row. Coastal Monterey still retains much of the charm from the days when the sardine was king. Many of the cannery buildings still remain, but have been converted into shops and eateries. Lodging from elegant to budget is available; and there are several motels catering to divers with facilities to rinse and dry gear. Gourmet and home-style restaurants are abundant, and many feature locally caught seafood. As one moves south towards Pacific Grove, Carmel and the Seventeen Mile Drive, one finds more upscale restaurants, lodging, and championship golf courses. However, south of Carmel is one of the best-preserved wilderness areas in the state. The Point Lobos State Marine Preserve has been called “The greatest meeting of land and water” with a rugged coastline carved by millenniums of pounding surf. This park surely deserves this title, although it may also be correctly applied to the entire Monterey Coast. South of Point Lobos lies the Big Sur Coast with its spectacular cliffs and waterfalls plunging to the beach. Of course, no matter how much one expounds on the beauty of topside Monterey, divers always regard this as a place for diving. The county offers three styles of diving depending on your experience, comfort level, and thirst for adventure. Within the lee of the Monterey Peninsula are a number of dive sites that are normally calm, yet offer a fantastic variety of marine life. Dive sites such as The Breakwater, McAbee Beach and Lovers Point are exemplary of easy entries with an assortment of much of the life making Monterey famous. As one heads south and rounds Point Pinos the dive sites become less protected, the fish life becomes more bountiful, and encrusting invertebrates more dense. The offshore rocks and pinnacles are packed with life, often only limited by the available space on the rocks. These sites are for advanced divers with cold-water experience. No diver should overlook the protected area of Point Lobos Reserve. The Big Sur Coast begins south of Point Lobos, and diving here is for the adventurer. There are a few spots that may be visited from shore entries, but only for those who are in good physical shape and are part mountain goat. However, charter boats from Monterey or Santa Barbara do run special trips to Big Sur.
McAbee Beach
McAbee Beach is a great spot to experience the local marine life and history. This
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beach, in the heart of the City of Monterey, was once a beach resort, a whaling station, and cannery. Today McAbee Beach is a State Marine Conservation Area where game may not be taken, and is bordered by restaurants and shops. Offshore you will find a 20 to 40 foot, deep rock-and-sand patch reef. Among the rocks lie the bones of the Gypsy, along with eight-inch metal pipes. These pipes were used to pump sardines from offshore moorings to onshore canneries. McAbee is a great place for finding nudibranchs. Lemon nudibranch and ringed dorids can be seen slowly looking for a meal of bryozoans or hydroids. Here you can also find unusual nudibranchs like Stearns’ and Ricketts’ aeolid, and more common aeolids like the Hermissenda or Hilton’s. The rocks are covered with an assortment of brightly colored sponges, anemones, and tunicates. Look for rockfish freely swimming in the open and hiding in the pipes. You can also expect a harbor seal to accompany you on a dive here.
Eric’s Pinnacle
Eric’s sits just beyond the kelp bed on the north side of Otter Cove. This massive rock is honeycombed with deep cracks and fissures and sits in about 60 feet of water, and its top juts up to within 20 feet of the surface. The pinnacle is split in several places and giant fissures run all the way through the pinnacle. Most of the rock is covered with a thick carpet of strawberry anemones, sponges and other encrusting invertebrates. This rock is also home to larger invertebrates and fish. Invertebrates here have been protected for some time, and the residents have grown numerous and fat. There are some very handsome rocks scallops on this pinnacle. With a light you will be able to see treefish, and other rockfish hiding way back in the cracks. Wolf-eels are sometimes found in the deep crevasses. Look for a pile of shells in a heap at the base of the pinnacle, and follow the debris up to a large crack. There are several huge Metridium anemones that make great photographic subjects. There are often small lingcod, or bat rays on the sandy bottom, and I have seen guitarfish here. Otters are predictably found in the nearby kelp bed. California’s Monterey County has remained a uniquely wild place in spite of its location between the major metropolitan centers of Los Angeles and San Francisco. A great deal of notable human history played out here over the centuries, yet Monterey continues to remain an untamed wilderness. Monterey is “Beauty and the Beauty,” embodying the best of both the natural world and the creature comforts of the man-made world. ■
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Wolf-eels are sometimes found at Eric’s. Photo courtesy Bruce Watkins.
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SOUTHweST
LAKES AND RESERVOIRS
Colorado Diving with ALTITUDE
By Mike Hughes
C
olorado is by far the land of scuba divers with altitude. The highest dive sites break surface records at just around 12 thousand feet above sea level. The lowest water level point is down along the Arickaree River at 3,315 ft above sea level. Almost any of the local dive shops will be glad to tell you the water visibility level increases as you gain altitude. Unfortunately, the temperature of the water decreases as you ascend to higher lake elevations. Local divers have learned to adjust to the various water temperatures by wearing next to nothing in low lying reservoirs during the summer months and donning drysuits up in the highland lakes where ice melting next to the adjacent shore line is known to really make an impact on warming up pristine clear water columns. At 11,950 ft and first on our list where the water is cold filtered and clear is George Town Lake. The lake is situated near an old Victorian mining town. You’ll find trout in the water columns. But the big plus to diving here is showing off your dive gear and seasonal
14
ice diving skills to passing groups of big horn sheep or an occasional wandering moose. There are a lot of lakes that fit this highland profile. At Cameron Pass down around 9000 ft you have lakes such as Chambers, Laramie, Twins and Barns Meadow Reservoir that can reach 100 ft of visibility. Down at 8100 ft you can achieve 50 ft of visibility at such lakes as Dowdy, Lone Pine, Lady Moon, and Nokomis. Aurora Lake at 5750 ft elevation, has easy walk in access as well as a sunken Cessna twin engine plane to explore. The visibility can drop down quite low at times, but still try to keep an eye out for crawdads and enjoy a day at the beach for a slight fee. I always like low vis days because they help me hone in my basic skills, especially my navigation skills. Also, I keep remembering the phrase when the vis is low, “a bad day of diving is better than any good day at the office,” and so the search continues for crabs, crawdads, and crayfish. Farther down at 5430 ft and 6.5 miles long is Horsetooth Lake. The visibility may not exceed 20 ft but there are plenty of fish to
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SOUTHweST
COLORADO
Chambers Lake. Photo courtesy John Daharsh. www.larimer.org
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see and the foundations of the old town of Stout, which rest down at the bottom of the substrate, were covered over in 1946 by the reservoir and give this popular lake a sense of mystery and intrigue. The water depth goes down to close to 200 ft and some of the more popular dive site entry points include Dixon Cove, Quarry Cove, Orchard Cove, and Sunrise. The last lake I’ll mention I’ve held in reserve on purpose. Blue Mesa Reservoir is the largest lake in Colorado. At 7,519 ft in elevation, 338 ft of depth in some locations, and over 36 miles long this lake has something to offer everyone. This lake is also the largest fishery for Kokanee Salmon (land locked Pacific Sockeye salmon) in the entire USA.” So there is a good chance you will see fish in this less than 20 ft vis water, but you may also find the foundations of three towns, roads, and railroad bridges all deep underwater with little or no traffic issues. There are many well-known lakes, but not all of them are easily accessible to divers. Each of the 64 counties forming the state of Colorado may have their own department of resource rules. Some counties require divers to carry dive flags, to dive with buddies, dive designated locations only, or require prior permission for diving some potential dive sites. Some lakes such as Dillon Lake at 9,017 ft may only allow surface activities such as motor boating, kayaking, fishing, and wind surfing. Water contaminating contact sports such as swimming and scuba diving may be prohibited. I guess one would conclude if you fell off a wind sail board and plunged down below an ever so slight motorboat oil slicked section of water, you might have to swim up and back over to your board, and thus, you could be in violation of lake contamination rules. The bottom line: if in doubt about the rules concerning a possible dive location, ask local officials for advice and permission well in advance. Lakes such as Turquoise Lake, at 10,000 ft and named after the locally mined semi-precious stone, are surrounded by privately owned land. In this case, divers need permission from a local sports club or private owners to cross over their land to reach the lake. This lake has been home and host of scuba dive treasure hunts. and local dive shops will be glad to let you know when the next one will take place. As far as diving out-of-state fresh water locations goes, Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico has to be the most popular spot. At an elevation of 4,762 ft, it is 81 ft deep and stays a constant 63 degrees in water temp. It’s the ideal diver get away location. The warmest out-of-state site, fins down, has to be Homestead Crater
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DIVING WITH ALTITUDE near Midway, Utah at an elevation of 7050 ft. The water depth inside this beehive like natural structure is a mere 65 ft deep before reaching silt and mud. This natural hot springs keeps the water bubbling up between 90º-96ºF. The dome’s open roof brings in natural light and helps even those feeling close-to-phobic, feel more comfortable with these waters. For those local divers living near the New Mexico border, Navajo Reservoir is the place to go. Actually one third of this lake is in Colorado, and the other two thirds are in New Mexico. The elevation is 6,200 ft and lots of dive activities take place at Navajo Lake State Park. If you like crossing borders, then you need to dive Lake McConaughy in Nebraska. At 6,200 ft in elevation, the “Big Mac”, as it’s called, gives you 22 miles of lake to kick around in. It’s 142 ft deep and 4 miles wide. As for saltwater activities, local divers drive out of state to Bonneville Sea base, 40 miles west of Salt Lake City. It’s elevation is 4,293 ft and you may only get 2-3 ft of visibility in this salty environment, but where else can you find a nurse shark and tuna roaming the southwest outdoors? Keep in mind if you desire real good visibility, but don’t want to pay for air fare then you can sign up for a low-fee scuba diving tour at the Downtown Denver Aquarium. While in Denver be sure to also
cOLORADO see the 280,000 marine invertebrate fossils at the Museum of Natural History. Although the aforementioned lakes and reservoirs are great for getting your dive gear wet and your dive skills fresh, what local Colorado divers are really well known for is their self-sacrificing willingness to travel thousands of miles just to visit
tropical fish in their natural native environment. By sheer volume alone, Colorado divers travel more than divers from any other state. Colorado is historically known as a great state for outdoor sports, and the highland lakes and mile high reservoirs just add credence to this well deserved claim. Great dives. ■
Photo courtesy Rocky Mountain Diving Center. www.rmdc.com
Aquatec USA • Tel (310) 639-9860 • www.aquatecusa.com This publication supports the southwest Dive Community
17
TROPICAL DESTINATIONS SOUTHWEST TRAVEL
ST. SOMEWHERE 9 Saintly Dives Destinations
By Mike Hughes Travel Editor, Dive News Network
If you’ve never been to the Caribbean, then I highly recommend setting this article aside and leaving on the next flight out for the crystal blue waters of a place like you’ve never been before. Divers who visit the Caribbean on a regular basis may have told you about reef sharks, barracuda, snapper, grunts, porgies, chubs, tangs, parrot fish, puffer fish and file fish but it’s an eye opening experience when you come face to face with painted animals such as the orange and white spotted Gaudy Clown Crab. The neon blue azure vase sponge looks surreal, squids radiate seemingly electrified colors and the whale shark with thousands of small teeth inside a massive 10 ft. wide mouth is ominous and awesome all at the same time. Caribbean diving encompasses more than the incredible creatures and sometimes you need a quick peek, a small sample, a face-toface introduction before you can select which island may best suit you. The thing is, no matter what type of diving will meet your particular needs and desires, the Caribbean has it all. Whether your favorite dive fetish is wall dives, wreck dives, photography, boat dives, or pristine shore dives, one of the islands making up the Caribbean should not only satisfy your diving needs, but it’s probably calling out to you right now. There is undersea life in the Caribbean rivaling anywhere else in the world; from the blue spotted peacock flounder Photo courtesy Tom Radio
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Carribean ST. Somewhere to tongue cowry shells with their leopard spotted mantles clinging to purple gorgonian sea fans the marine life here consists of huge splashes of color throughout the green and blue hues of the ocean depths. You’ll see seahorses and frog fish clinging to corals and rocks. Local dive masters will point these creatures out to you but as you become familiar with the fish species, you’ll find some fish look like different species, but in fact, they are the same species, just the same fish at different stages in life. Drum fish only have a few stripes across their body as juveniles, but have spots and extra faded brown-black lines as adults. French angle fish as adults are gray oval shaped fish with tiny yellow spots, while juveniles are triangular gray fish with yellow stripes. The possibilities are seemingly endless and there are just as many diving possibilities; let’s take a look at some…
here is not even in the USVI, but over in the British Virgin Islands. You can take an all day boat trip over to Salt Island. This is the home of the 1867 wreck RMS Rhone. This iron hull royal mail steamer ship is not famous just because it tried to out run a storm that turned out to be a late season hurricane, nor is it only famous because only 23 of the 146 onboard survived the event, the main reason it is so popular is the wreck was the setting for the movie “The Deep.” If you look towards the bow, 75 ft. deep, you will
see the hatch Jacqueline Bisset swam thru wearing not much more than a scuba tank and a wet tee shirt. The Rhone originally broke into two pieces, but the Royal Navy decided the stern section at 20 ft. of depth was a maritime hazard so they blew it up in the late 1950’s…so much for historical preservation. The 15 ft. wide brass propeller sits on the bottom and there are checkerboard pattern tiles where once stood a galley. Wrenches are still encrusted in their original secured compartment.
Saint Croix
Called the “American Paradise” of the United States Virgin Islands, St. Croix is 28 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is home to a spectacular 7-mile long wall dive. Off Cane Bay depths run from 20 ft. and descend down to some 3200 ft. Columbus discovered this island in 1493, which must have been quite a surprise to the local Carib natives. The United States bought it from the Danish in 1917 for $25 million and a promise to keep the waters safe from Axis maritime aggression. When you are not diving the wall, or the town pier in Frederiksted, visit the old Whim Plantation or the dungeon at the 1794 fort above Christiansted. The steeple building has a good exhibit on Carib and Arawak Indians. Off shore and great for snorkeling, is the Buck Island Reef National Monument. For those wanting to relax, you can’t beat a bar on the Cane Bay beachfront that literally is called “Off the Wall”. I should add liveaboards such as the Nekton vessel Rorqual travel around St Croix too. St. Thomas St. Thomas is for wreck divers. It’s home to the Miss Opportunity, a 350 ft. long Hospital ship, the W.I.T Shoal, a 400 ft. freighter sunk in 80 ft. of water and a dozen other last century wrecks. It’s amazing how fast coral and sea life can take over a sunken ship. St. Thomas and St. John are both just 40 miles north of St Croix.
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St. John
St. John, 3 miles east of St. Thomas is a national park area. There are plenty of offshore rocks, shoals, and cays. You’ll find 30-70 ft. deep dive locations everywhere. Cow and Calf Rocks are both notable as a swim-through. The main attraction out
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TROPICAL Diving Texas Style St. Kitts
Around St. Kitts, over 400 years of European ships fighting in the bays and surrounding offshore waters has left this island with some of the oldest wrecks in the Caribbean. If you want to dive and see encrusted cannons, cannon balls, plates, uniform buttons, and other artifacts, this is the island for you. Coconut Tree Reef is 40-200 ft., Black Coral Reef is at 40-70 ft., the 144 ft. long River Taw Wreck and The Caves of Nevis Island are at 40 ft. with swim thrus and grottos. Depending on the time of year you may see 6 ft. long 1300 lb. leatherback turtles come ashore at Barry’s Beach to lay clutches of oversized white ping-pong ball like eggs in the sand. On land, Brimstone Hill Fortress has plenty of dry historical artifacts.
St. Martin/St. Marteen
Photo courtesy Jerry Washburn
St. Martin is home to the 1800’s British Man-O-War wreck HMS Proselyte in 50 ft. of water sporting 13 encrusted cannons. Other dives include The Maze, a swim thru, Moon Hole, which is a crater 20 ft. below the surface opening up to 60 ft. with walls, open corridors and caves. One Step Beyond are 2 pinnacles at 70 ft. Wrecks include the Gregory at 55 ft. and the Fu Shen at 120.ft. and there are also many other reefs as well as the artificial reef created by the remnants of the old Simpson Bridge. One of the popular dives is the Shark Awareness Dive at Big Mamas Reef. Here you can sit at 55 ft. of depth and watch trained professionals feed big Mama and her sharp-toothed cartilaginous cousins. On the surface this island has been co-habited and co-governed by the Dutch and French for the past 350 yrs. They literally drew a line through the island and one side is Dutch with the capital of Phillipsburg and uses Netherlands Antilles Florins as well as US dollars as monetary currency. On the other side we have streets right out of Paris with the capital of Marigot and Euros. Everyone should visit Fort Lois, built in 1767, and the Marigot Museum with some native Arawak artifacts dating back to 1800 BC and ceramic artifacts dating back to 500 BC. The Arawaks were culturally thriving until the Caribs discovered them and the Caribs met a similar fate when discovered by the Europeans.
St. Barts/St. Barths/Barthelmy
Supposedly named in honor of Columbus’s brother, this area has a lot of history. I’m not a history buff, but I believe the French exchanged this island with Sweden in 1784 for trading rights and a free day pass to Sam’s Club. France repurchased the island in 1877 so, on the surface, you’ll see Swedish names on signs, but the island is French in almost every other way. The Rich come here, but don’t expect to see them out by a hot dog stand. With so many excellent French chefs concentrated on one patch of land, many visitors prefer to have meals catered in their private villas. To save a little money on airfare, you might want to bring your own yacht. The local marina is a favored transit station while island hopping and can hold up to 500 yachts at one time, although 50 or so are typically in port. The island itself is formed by ancient coral reefs and boasts more white sand beaches than any other Caribbean get away. Diving is by boat around surrounding rocks and shoals. The marine reserve is set up into 6 zones and marine life has made a major comeback because of concerted efforts. There are over 15 noted dive sites, 4 wrecks, caves, and reefs to choose from. Remember to bring bagfuls of dollars to exchange for a few fistfuls of Euros. This is the place to enjoy champagne boat dreams and caviar dive wishes.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide. This island is home of the Soufriere Marine Management Area as well as the famous Chastnet Reef. Shore diving goes from 20-140 ft. Superman’s Flight is an awesome drift dive in front of the Petit Piton. The Key Hole is actually a set of 4 pinnacles or seamounts. You can already guess what you’ll see at Turtle Reef - Hawksbill and Green turtles. On the east side you’ll find Piton Walls and Coral Gardens, plus they have the 20
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wreck Daini Koyomaru at a depth of 108 ft. and under 300 ft. long. As diving goes, this island has a lot of bang for the buck. Above ground Mt Gemie is 3,117 ft. high and there are rain forests everywhere. You can visit a dormant sulfur springs, waterfalls, forts, and former pirate sites. Leatherbacks go ashore at Grande Anse Beach.
called the critter capital of the Caribbean but it’s really not fair to compare it to other single island since St. Vincent includes 32 islands, the Grenadines. Some famous dives include Coral Castle and Bat Caves. There are 30 other sites and wrecks making this an ideal dive destination. Above the water line is Fort Charlotte on Berkshire Hill, rain forests, and Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary. If you are looking for a taste of the Caribbean, these are just a few morsels to get you going, however, nothing is like making the trip and tasting the real thing. ■
St. Vincent
St Vincent is 18 miles long and 11 miles wide. Mount Soufriere, an active volcano, ascends 4048 ft. This is a land of black sand beaches, drift dives, wall dives and it’s an underwater photographer’s haven. It’s
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Northeast Dive News JANUARY 2008
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EQUIPMENT TROPICAL DIVE DIRECTORY TUSA’s BCJ-1800 Voyager
TUSA’s BCJ-1800 Voyager is a lightweight and compact BC ideal for warm water divers or the constant traveler. It offers TUSA patented features such as the integrated Weight Loading System (W.L.S.), which permits easy weight loading and release, the Independent Harness Get the free mobile app for your phone System which was developed to significantly reduce weight and http:/ / gettag.mobi structure, and the Ultimate Stabilizing Harness which has two separated rails to increase the tank’s security and prevent it from rolling. Lightweight and compact this BC weighs only 4.4lbs/2kg (size M). Buoyancy is controlled by TUSA’s patented O.P.E.V. quick inflate/deflate system and the heavy duty 840/420 denier nylon shell provides superior strength and durability. Additionally, the Voyager can be rolled for travel and features a unique console sleeve, on the left side, for streamlined routing of your gauge or computer console. For more info visit w w w. t u s a . c o m / s h o p / b c j 1 8 0 0 voyager-p-286.html.
White’s Introduces Seal Lock Technology
Whites Seal Lock Technology (SLT) is a modular seal replacement system incorporating a neck ring retainer and compression fit wrist seals. Simple, innovative and convenient, SLT enables quick and easy change out of worn or torn seals in the field and best et the free mobile app for your phone of all, anyone can do it. SLT ttp:/ / gettag.mobi features all new silicone neck and wrist seals. For more info visit www.whitesdiving.com/sportdiving/seal-lock-technology.
Children’s book
“My Daddy Wears a Different Kind of Suit to Work” is a full color illustrated children’s book sharing the undersea world with your children. Full color pictures and a heartwarming tale, the story is translated by the 13-year-old author to Spanish in the back of the book. This is a dual language book. A hard cover (6”x9”) bound bed time story book, this is designed for any child who loves the ocean. For more info about the book visit www. gallantaquatic.com Get the free mobile app for your phone SeaLife Mini II Dive & Sport Camera http:/ / gettag.mobi
The SeaLife Mini II – Dive & Sport digital camera is rugged and shockproof. It is a 9 megapixel self-contained camera that is waterproof to 130 ft. and shockproof to 6ft. The SeaLife Mini II has an easy setup menu. The easy set-up is a simplified menu system making navigating through the camera functions easier than ever. For those wishing to take even more spectacular pictures and videos, the Mini II is easy to expand with either the SeaLife Digital Pro Flash (SL961) or the Photo Video Light (SL980). Other recommended accessories are the Mini Wide Angle/Close-up Lens (SL973) and the Float Strap (SL920). For more info visit www.sealife-cameras.com. Get the free mobile app for your phone
GALAPAGOS Divencounters Alliance 877.323.DIVE www.divencounters.com
HAWAII Maui Dreams Dive Co 808.874.5332 www.mauidreamsdiveco.com
HONDURAS Deep Blue Resort 504.95.76.36.97 www.deepblueutila.com Utila Tours 800.668.8452 337.893.0013 www.utila.com
INDONeSIA Island DreamsTravel 713.973.9300 www.divetrip.com Kungkungan Bay Resort & Spa 530.347.2300 www.divekbr.com Lembeh Hills Resort www.LembehHills.com 62.812.441.18.000 Puri Wirata Dive Resort and Spa 62.813.840.5335 www.puriwirata.com Pindito Liveaboard 831.818.8594 www.pindito.com Sea Safari Cruises 62.631.721.212 www.seasafaricruises.com Northeast Dive News JANUARY 2008
Tasik Ria Resort Spa & Diving 62.431 -.824.445 www.tasikria.com
MexICO Aquanauts Dive Adv. 52.998.206.9365 www.aquanautsdiveadventures.com Scuba Playa Dive Shop 52.984.803.3123 www.scubaplaya.com
PHILIPPINeS ActiVentures Philippines 650.834.1331 www.activenturespi.com Big La Laguna Beach Dive Resort 425.298.8172 www.BigLaLa.com Campbells Beach Resort 63.920.416.0502 www.CampbellsBeachResort.com Island DreamsTravel 713.973.9300 www.divetrip.com
ReD SeA - eGYPT Fly & Sea Dive Adventures 888.995.DIVE(3483) www.redseadiving.ca
ROATAN CoCo View Resort Roatan 800.282.8932 www.roatan.com GoRoatan.com 888.405.8737 www.goroatan.com www.nedivenews.com
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ST. CROIx (U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS) BVI Scuba 284.540.2222 www.bviscubaco.com Cane Bay Dive Shop 340.773.9913 www.canebayscuba.com Jost Van Dyke 800.778.8066 www.jostvandyke.com
ST. kITTS Dive St. Kitts 869.564.8914 www.divestkitts.com Bird Rock Beach Resort 877.244.6285 www.birdrockbeach.com
ST. VINCeNT Bequia Dive Adventures 784.458.3826 www.bequiadiveadventures.com
THAILAND Sairee Cottage Diving 66.774.56.126 www.saireecottagediving.com
TURkS & CAICOS Oasis Divers 649.946.1128 www.oasisdivers.com
Want to support local diving in your part of the globe? email keath@divenewsmag.com!
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