lunarscope august 2015august 15 dive at twin lakes! starting at 8am until… sodas, plates and...
TRANSCRIPT
Lunarfins, a non-profit club that promotes the sport of scuba diving.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 12
Speaker: Joanie Steinhaus from Galveston’s Sea Turtle Action Center
A leading force for the protection and recovery of sea turtles and a wide array of marine wildlife since 1989, Turtle Island Restoration Network has worked actively in the Gulf of Mexico for more than 20 years. We have educated more than 30,000 school children about sea turtles, started the first state-wide Sea Turtle Rescue Hotline, and helped establish the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle as an official state symbol. Since the BP Oil Spill we have intensified our efforts in the Gulf, hiring Galveston based staff member Joanie Steinhaus and opening the public Sea Turtle Action Center. Joanie combines hands-on nesting beach monitoring and sea turtle conservation, inspiring environmental education, and civic action to make sure policies are sea turtle-friendly, all in order to bring the community together to help the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles recover. For more information or to support this important work, please visit SeaTurtles.org/Gulf
Lunarscope AUGUST 2015
Inside this issue
02 Events Calendar Club Officers
03 Pending Trips and Events
04 Recent Surface Intervals
05 Pending Dive Shop Trips
06 REEF 2016 trips
07 Toole Shed Report
08 Anthony’s Key
10 Continuing Education
Lunarfins P.O.Box 57514 Webster TX 77598-7514
Lunarfins Board Meetings are held the last Tuesday each month at 6:30 PM.
Arrive at 6 to select your supper. Tony’s BBQ and Steakhouse
17052 Saturn Ln If you have an issue to bring before the board,
contact any board member to get on the agenda.
General Meeting Information
Where: Clear Lake Park; 5001 NASA Road 1, on the South (lake) side of NASA
Road One.
When: Second Wednesday of each month at 7 PM except April and December.
Come early for a social time at 6:30 PM. Join us afterward at Mario’s in
Seabrook for food, drink and camaraderie.
August 2015
Events Calendar
(Tentative plans)
Aug 15 Twin Lakes page 3
Sep 12 Beach Party page 3
Oct 17 Haunted Tour
Nov Happy Hour
Dec Christmas Party
Jan Open
Feb Open
Mar Open
Apr Open House Picnic
Apr JSC Health & Safety Day
May Open
Jun Pot Luck Picnic
Jul Open Membership
Membership runs from March 1st to Feb 29th next year.
Please bring the form (below) to the next meeting or mail it in.
Don’t forget to fill out your interest and if you want to be included in the directory.
Only those who chose to be shown in the directory will get a copy of the directory.
Membership Application
This link will download the file to your computer.
Available at meetings:
Lunarfin embroidered logo shirts $15. two small (gold, light blue), one men's medium (aqua blue).
Stickers for sale ($1 ea).
See Barbara at any Lunarfin event or
email: [email protected]
ELECTED OFFICERS President Mike Peters 281-481-9091 [email protected] Vice President Randy Widaman 281-338-8808 [email protected] Secretary OPEN [email protected] Treasurer John Gorman 281-481-0667 [email protected] Social Director Barbara Corbin 409-497-4043 [email protected] Equipment Jenna Contenta 409-789-4007 [email protected]
APPOINTED Training Information Bill Jones 281-488-3663 [email protected] Trip Information OPEN [email protected] TGCC Representative Tom Burns 281-488-6759 [email protected] Advisors Fred Toole & George Clark Newsletter & Website Polly Swerdlin 281-814-4606 [email protected]
WANTED Zombie or Alive: Club Secretary
Just take a few notes at our board and general meetings to remind us of decisions we made. We aren’t super critical, it’s an easy job. This position also keeps track of the membership based on forms the treasurer collects. So it is an important role as newsletters and special events get emailed out and are dependent on these records.
When chemists die, apparently they barium. I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down.
I saw a theatrical performance about puns. It was a play on words.
2
August 2015
Pending Trips and Events
August 22, 2016
The 15th Annual Bill Jones Cozumel Vacation
These trips have been named the most popular “all inclusive” scuba diving
vacation package in Houston. We have had more than 385 travelers enjoy the
fantastic value of this vacation.
Visit http://home.comcast.net/~bill.jones.scubaguy/ for the latest plus any
classes offered.
Tickets on sale this December
August 15 Dive at Twin Lakes! Starting at 8AM until…
Sodas, plates and cutlery by the club. BYOB as desired, and finger food to share.
----- On TX 6 between 288 and 35 in Manvel
Beach Party September 12 in Galveston! Starting at 4 P.M. until dark
Sodas, beer and wine, hot dogs and brats, plates and cutlery by the club. BYOB as desired, and finger food to share.
----- We’ll be at East Beach
Look for our flag along the line of pilings at the edge of the parking
3
August 2015
Recent Surface Intervals
These and more are on our website
Pot Luck Picnic at Bob and Marilyn’s
4
August 2015
Trips Offered by Dive Shops etc.
LOCAL TRIPS Flower Gardens Texas Coral Reefs
Texas Dive Center
www.txdivecenter.com 281-741-9949
Shoving off on the Easy Diver Sport Divers www.sportdivers.com 281-338-1611
Our trips are generally 30 miles offshore, although longer trips or three tank dives can be arranged.
Freeport to the Rigs Weekends that weather allows
$250 pp - $15 additional for tanks
Rig diving daytrips by Captain Beard Charters www.captainbeardcharte
rs.com 832-603-1698
INTERNATIONAL Gigglin Marlin Aug 13-18 Saint Croix – Ladies Only! Sep 19-26 Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles www.gigglinmarlin.com Island Dreams Sep 1-11 Solomon Islands Jun 29-Jul 6 Grenada (2016) www.divetrip.com Maximum Scuba Sep 4-9 Grand Cayman Nov 20-25 Cozumel http://maximum-scuba.com OceanicVentures Sep 5-12 Grand Cayman Dec 5-9 Cozumel http://oceanicventures.com REEF Trips Dive Vacations That Count (2016 page 6) www.reef.org/trips Sport Divers www.sportdivers.com
5
A REEF Surveyor with grunts. Photo by Nathan Brown.
Puddingwife display striking colors in Bermuda. Photo by Ned DeLoach.
California Sea Lion awaits divers on Coronado Islands.
Photo by Jonathan Lavan.
Explore spectacular underwater reefs. Photo courtesy Saba Tourism Board
August 2015
We are excited to announce the 2016 REEF Field Survey Trips Schedule. We have an exciting lineup of destinations planned, and we hope you will join us. These trips offer a great introduction to fish identification for novice fish watchers, and are a fun way for experienced surveyors to build their life list while interacting with fellow ocean enthusiasts. We are also offering three of the ever-popular Invasive Lionfish Research Studies. REEF staff, board members, and other marine life experts lead the trips, and each features daily classroom seminars and a full diving schedule. To find out more or to book your space, contact us at [email protected] or call 305-588-5869. Visit www.REEF.org/trips to see the complete schedule, package details, trip leader bios, and more. We hope you will join us. Book early - REEF trips often sell out! Also, keep an eye on the REEF Trips webpage because we will be adding a few more trips to the 2016 schedule (and beyond) in the coming months.
2016 REEF Field Survey Schedule Feb 6 - 13 -- Dominica Invasive Lionfish Research Study -- Dive Dominica & Castle Comfort Lodge, Led by Lad Akins and Peter Hughes, Details
Feb 20 - 27 -- Barbados -- Dive Barbados Blue & Coconut Court Beach Hotel, Led by Lad Akins, Details
April 9 - 16 -- Philippines Dumaguete -- Atlantis Resort Dumaguete, Led by Dr. Christy Pattengill-Semmens and Dr. Brice Semmens, Details
April 16 - 23 -- Philippines Tubbataha Reef-- Atlantis Azores Liveaboard, Led by Dr. Christy Pattengill-Semmens and Dr. Brice Semmens, Details
May 14 - 21 -- Honduras Bay Islands Invasive Lionfish Research Study --M/V Caribbean Pearl II, Led by Lad Akins and Peter Hughes, Details
June 18 - 25 -- Florida Keys and Blue Heron Bridge -- Islamorada Dive Center & Postcard Inn, Led by Carlos and Allison Estape, Details
Aug 13 - 20 -- Virgin Gorda -- Dive BVI & Guavaberry Spring Bay, Led by Janna Nichols, Details
Aug 20 - 27 -- Curacao Invasive Lionfish Research Study -- GO WEST Diving & Kura Hulanda Lodge, Led by Lad Akins and Peter Hughes, Details
Oct 1 - 8 -- Bermuda -- Triangle Diving & Grotto Bay, Led by Ned and Anna DeLoach, Details
Oct 9 - 13 -- Barkley Sound, British Columbia -- Rendezvous Dive Adventures, Led by Janna Nichols, Details
Oct 22 - 29 -- Saba Sea & Learn -- Sea Saba & Juliana's Hotel, Led by Paul Humann and Jonathan Lavan, Details
Nov 7 - 10 -- Coronado Islands, MX and San Diego, CA -- Waterhorse Charters, Led by Jonathan Lavan, Details
Dec 3 - 10 -- Belize Turneffe Atoll -- Blackbird Caye Resort, Led by Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., Details
Dec 3 - 10 -- Cozumel -- Chili Charters & Safari Inn or Casa Mexicana, Led by Tracey Griffin, Details
www.REEF.org/trips
6
August 2015
Toole Shed Report Contributed by Jenna Contenta
She then noted that a friend of club member, John Harvey, donated the following items to the club, much of which Jenna feels would be a nice accessories/enhancement to our tank rental checkouts: · 4 Scuba Tanks (one of which has a valve that needs a new knob)… all need to be rehydrod’d and VIP’d · 7 tank Carriers · 4 tank wraps · 1 Dive Flag As for the tanks, Mr. Harvey noted “As they’ve got my EOI stickers on them, the last time I dropped an eye into them they must have been good; if I can remember where my records are and do a little research, I can give you the details of their last inspections”. The club will just need to decide if these are worth adding to our stock of tanks for rental/up keep, sell them as is for club funds, or sell them as scrap metal for club funds. Additionally, as last month’s meeting, the membership voted one of the tanks donated in June could go to her father and member, Peter Contenta, for a scuba mailbox project and that he is researching the weight versus scrap metal prices with intention to donate that money to the club. Dive Safe, Jenna Contenta - KF5KDQ JSC Lunarfins Equipment Manager 2015 409.789.4007c [email protected]
Equipment Manager, Jenna Contenta, reported that there were 0 Air Tank Fills, 0 Tank Rentals, 0 Compressor activity (includes reservoir tank activity).
The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error. Voltaire
7
August 2015
Anthony’s Key Contributed by Barbara Corbin
A week at Anthony’s Key in Roatan
Anthony’s Key is located on the northwest end of Roatan. The rooms are actually private
bungalows located either on the hill overlooking the docks and key, on the dock or on the key.
Several bungalows on the key are out over the water. Some have air conditioning, while some
do not. The pool is also located on the key, but the
diving, horse stables, dining room and main bar are
located on the mainland. A water taxi takes you back
and forth
between the key
and the
mainland. There
is a third key,
Bailey Key, that
houses the
dolphin lagoon and supports all of the dolphin
encounters, including diving or snorkeling with the
dolphins. The resort is situated right along the Cayman
trench with wreck, wall and reef diving. The dive shop
has 7 boats that run 3 dive trips a day plus a night dive on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We spent
most of our time under water, completing 18 dives during the week. The diving included most of
the normal reef fish, but we had the opportunity to see a few fish we don’t often see. We saw a
few scorpionfish and several free-swimming green morays. We saw more green moray eels out
swimming during the daylight than we saw hiding in holes. We also saw a few octopus during
the night dives, and even one during the day! The dive sites
are 5-10 minutes from the resort, so boats get to the dive
sites quickly and return to the dock for the surface interval
between dives.
8
August 2015
Anthony’s Key Contributed by Barbara Corbin
9
August 2015
The Lunarfins Scuba Club was organized in 1963 by a small group of divers who worked at the Manned Spacecraft Center, as Johnson Space Center (JSC) was known back then. The club grew primarily through the sponsorship of SCUBA training classes, local dive trips and social activities. Since that time, membership has broadened to include anyone interested in diving. The majority of our members are in some way affiliated with NASA but this is not a requirement for membership and we have members from all across the board.
Lunarfins P.O. Box 57514
Webster TX 77598-7514
281-814-4606 [email protected]
Continuing Education As found on DAN’s website
7 Mistakes Divers Make; And How to Avoid Them http://media.dan.org/DAN-SmartGuide-DiveMistakes.pdf More details and tips for each are found on this document 1 Neglecting Health and Fitness Health: Prior to diving, you should take an honest assessment of whether you are medically fit to dive. Be vigilant for signs of acute illness (like congestion) and familiarize yourself with the risks and essential precautions associated with any chronic diseases. Fitness: Being a physically fit diver means that you have sufficient aerobic capacity, cardiovascular health and physical strength to meet the demands of the diving environment. Can you fight a current? Perform a long surface swim? Help a buddy in an emergency? All divers need to be physically able to perform these essential tasks. 2 Neglecting Proper Gear Maintenance Dive equipment is life-support equipment. Each time you dive, you are venturing into a fascinating, but also unforgiving environment; make sure you are diving with a set of properly functioning equipment. 3 Insufficient Dive Planning One of the most important pre-dive steps is dive planning. Learn as much as possible in advance about any dive site you plan to dive. 4 Lack of Buoyancy Control It’s not surprising that the most common injuries among divers are related to buoyancy issues—barotrauma, uncontrolled ascents, marine life injuries and more could be prevented with some practice and attention to detail. 5 Diving Beyond Your Training Never stop developing your diving abilities. There is always more to learn—how to dive new environments, how to refine your skills or even how to use new types of equipment. No matter where your diving adventures take you, make sure you are equipped with the proper training. 6 Running Out Of Air Running out of air is the most common trigger for diving accidents. It seems like a no-brainer, but several factors can affect consumption rate. Be air aware: Monitor your air supply. 7 Not Taking Personal Responsibility Each diver in the dive group shares equal responsibility for the conduct of the dive. When all divers understand and agree with that premise, the dive group can protect itself from individual and collective harm. Dive safety starts with you
More health related subjects can be found on http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/health/
10