In
this month’s issue--
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Regular Features
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Dive & Event Calendar |
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By
Jason Miller
As the season changes from
winter to spring, Mother Nature is hard at work sprucing up the great outdoors.
The days are getting longer and it is a good time to catch up on the chores
around the homestead. During this time
of renewal it is a good idea to include your SCUBA gear and SCUBA skills on the”honey-do”
list. Start by taking an inventory of your gear by laying it out, in an out of
the way space of your home or garage to keep it from getting stepped on or
chewed on by the family dog. I
personally set my gear out all over the living room much to my spouse’s
delight. I tell her that”I don’t want to get it dirty or wet”. During this part of the inventory look at
the condition of your gauges, buoyancy compensators, hoses, regulators, masks,
fins, exposure suits, lights and anything else that you have pertaining to your
diving equipment. If it is broken, fix it or have it serviced. Look to see if
the hydros and visuals are current on the cylinders and check your regulator
service record. Take out your save a dive kit and first aid kit, again replace
any missing items. If you have an O2 kit check the status of the gauge making
sure it is full. Call your local dive center to see if they offer an equipment
class. These classes are invaluable training on how to properly take care of
your gear before, during and after diving.
Take a moment to mentally
evaluate your basic SCUBA skills. If it has been a long time since you
practiced or performed them it is a good time to start. Most shops offer SCUBA
skills update and/or continuing education classes. If you are thinking about
taking advanced or specialty classes now is a good time as some shops offer
winter discounts for training classes. The basic idea of being safe starts with
preventative maintenance. Nothing could be worse than not being able to dive
while on a charter that you spent thousands of dollars on because of a broken
strap or a case of anxiety from not being mentally prepared. Tuning you skills
is like tuning your regulators, it is something that cannot be overlooked or
put off until next time. Get ready for a new year of diving enjoyment by
getting yourself and your equipment serviced. Remember that diving is a gear
intensive sport and you have invested great amounts of money in you gear, take
care of it.
Jason
A WELCOME FROM
OUR VICE PRESIDENT
By
Loogpla Cowden
ESDC,
please extend a
warm
welcome to our newest members- Chad
Cabe, and Richard Pearson.
Chad
and Richard, we hope you will join us for the upcoming club events and dives.
The
month
of March is a very exciting time for us.
We volunteer our time
to
clean the Fishing pier for the City of Edmonds, and each spring we
spend
the weekend at Camp Casey on Whidbey Island.
Please
join us this month to welcome our guest speaker - Instructor and Marine
Biologist
Keith Ludemann. Mr. Ludemann has been
teaching the
ecosystem
for the past 18 years at the Sea Lab of the Seattle
Pacific
Universit, which is located at the Casey Conference Center.
The
Center is proud of its Sea Lab and almost all users of the
conference
center get a tour and learn about the marine environment.
Some
10,000 children tour it each year. For
many youths, this is
their
only opportunity to see and touch those critters that live
underwater
and to learn about them. At the end of the season all
marine
life is returned to Puget Sound.
Fort
Casey was built in the 1890's, and by 1908 it was in full operation and ranked
as the
fourth
largest military post in the state. It was one of three defense forts
at
the entrance of Admiralty Inlet, joining Fort Flagler and Fort
Worden. Today, Casey Conference Center offers
versatile facilities,
making
it an ideal place to play. A place set
a part from the rest
of
the world! We hope to see you at the
meeting and journey back
in
time to hear the tale of our ecosystem by Marine Biologist
Keith
Ludemann who will be our host for the Camp Casey Weekend. You
will
be amazed and enlightend!
Loogpla.
CHRISTMAS PARTY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
By
Jason
Calling all Emerald Sea
Dive Club members. I need a group of people to create the Christmas party
planning committee. The Christmas party is a focal point for all club members.
It is a chance for people to come together and celebrate the season and reminisce
of the past year’s activities. While
working with the committee you purchase dive gear with the club’s money for the
raffle, plan the menu, reserve and decorate the hall. Please contact Jason
Miller if you are interested in helping with the planning. 425-778-7548 or
jason.miller@idg-corp.com
DIVER'S INN WEEKEND -- a
REVIEW
By
Skip Stacy
Don
Kinney’s Diver's Inn in Hoodsport on Hood Canal is
fast
becoming one of our favorite getaways.
It seems the ferry or
Hood
Canal Bridge is the line to leave everything behind and start a
relaxed
3 day weekend of diving, socializing and food. (I didn’t
forget
the hot tub and fantastic drying room either) One thing I
did
not want to forget was some serious congrats to Mike and Kristina
Hughes
(notice Kristina's last name is now the same as Mike's).
Another
pat on the back goes to Chris Connolly for doing 5 dives
during
the weekend. We had Don Kinney, Chris
and Laurel, Mike
and
Kristina, Loogpla and I, Buck and Fran, Phil from Pt. Angeles and
another
couple who filled in from Edmonds Underwater Sports. Friday
Night
Dive out in front of the Divers Inn, Food, more food, Hot tub
and
Friendly, Kicked-Back atmosphere started the week-end off.
Saturday
was Sund Rock most of the day with more food, another night
dive
and more hot tub. Sunday everyone dove
where it was convenient and
some
left early. Loogpla and I, Buck and
Fran and Chris and Laurel
rented
kayaks and dove Octopus Hole for a one tank Kayak dive. It
was
once again a wonderful experience and everyone even made it back
to
the dive shop against heavy winds, although it was quite a
battle. Thanks to everyone involved, Don Kinney,
Mike Hughes and Ron
&
Mike (the staff at Hoodsport-N-Dive shop)
I should say Mike as
staff
and Ron's the owner. They are always a
pleasure to be involved
with. We're going back, so join us one one of the
times if you get
the
chance.
Skip
UPCOMING
WEEKEND AT DIVERS INN
By Mike Hughes
April 12th,13th,&14th
Two nights at Divers Inn in Hoodsport
This is where we usually see lots of Octopi and Wolf
eels . Last
time some of the group dove sunde rock, some did deep
dives, while
others rented Kayaks for diving. We all had a great time and there
seems to be someone to talk about the latest trends
in diving, talk
stories and vacations, or go diving with, around the
clock. Plenty of
room, but sign up early. You may leave a check payable to C2Cdivers
or Mike Hughes. For couples discount, private room, or more info
email Mike Hughes divec2c@yahoo.com or 206 280 7928. For those
that want to gain a more knowledge and experience, a
deep diver and
Nitrox combined course will be offered for $150 for
Emerald Sea Dive
Club members during this weekend trip. Only eight people may enroll
for this combined course, so call or email early. divec2c@yahoo.com
Mike
ESDC divers – the monthly meeting is your best way to get together with club friends, meet new members, and arrange dives. Always a great time!
Visitors and potential members are always welcome!
Date:
Wednesday, March 6, 2002
Place:
Coco’s Restaurant
7929 Lake Ballinger Way
Edmonds, WA
Time:
Board
meeting 6:00 PM (everyone welcome)
General meeting 7:00 PM
How To Get There:
From I-5 take exit #177, and then head west toward Edmonds until the “Y” in the road (approx. 1.5 miles). Turn Left onto 205th Street. Coco’s is on your right in the center of the “Y.”
Speaker:
Keith Ludemann (see Loogpla’s article for details)
The board officers have volunteered to be there for the club and for you. If you have any questions pertaining to the club, feel free to contact any officer.
President:
Jason Miller (425) 778-7548
jason.miller@IDG-Corp.com
Vice President:
Loogpla Cowden (206) 399-5682
loogpla@worldnet.att.net
Treasurer:
Rodney Windhorst (425) 258-3071
Lsvision@earthlink.net
Secretary/Historian:
Anya Dollar (425) 345-4210
dollara@earthlink.net
Activities Coordinator:
Buck Knight (206) 542-8887
l.sceptre3@verizon.net
Newsletter Editor:
Wendy Drucker (206) 632-3874
astromoi@earthlink.net
Big Buddy Coordinator:
Guy Balbirona (425) 252-1632
kaikanuni@aol.com
Webmaster:
Lucas Scott (425) 640-9896
lukenmel@msn.com
Looking for a dive buddy? The members listed here are hoping someone will want to go for a dive. Give ‘em a call!
David Mangels - anytime
(425) 483-6897
Skip Stacy - rainy days
(425) 775-2410
Guy Balbirona - anytime after work (3:30)
(425) 252-1632
Mel Nelson - Advanced
anytime
(425) 334-6291
Keith Bartelson - rainy days
(425) 640-9897
kdbart@oz.net
Jason Miller - Rescue (425) 778-7548
jason.miller@idg-corp.com
Jeff Watts - Advanced
(206) 297-3951
Wayne Klehm - Advanced
(425) 349-2163
wklehm@worldnet.att.net
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March 9 (Sat) 1st Edmonds Pier
Clean-up |
Hazardous
dive. Waiver required. Meet
8:30 AM for 1st dive Mandatory
Dive Briefing 9:00 AM 2nd
dive in afternoon. Plan on finishing about 3:00. |
Host:
Fran Murray 206-543-1866 |
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March 23-24 (Sat-Sun) Annual Camp Casey Weekend Whidbey Island |
Critter
collection dives at Camp Casey. 2
dives per day. Some
members like to arrive Friday evening. Single
day divers OK See
Mike’s article in Feb issue for details and dive times. |
Host:
Mike McGrath (425) 486-6029 |
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April 7 (Sun) Keystone Jetty Langley Marina, Whidbey
Island |
1st
dive at Keystone Jetty meet
10:00 AM Lunch
in Langley 2nd
dive at Langley Marina to follow |
Host:
Mike Franz (360)
321-4435 |
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April 12-13-14 (Fri-Sun) Divers Inn, Hoodsport |
Stay
at Don Kinney’s Divers Inn and dive Hood Canal. See article this issue for details. |
Host:
Mike Hughes (206)
280-7928 divec2c@yahoo.com |
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April 20 (Sat) 100 Foot Rock Earth Day Celebration |
Dive
and clean up the bottom and shore. Splash
9:45 AM Details
at the meeting and in April Issue. |
Host:
Guy Balbirona Numbers
listed under 2002 Board |
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May 2002 Cozumel, Mexico |
Dive
trip to a great place. See December 2001 issue for details, or ask Skip or
Loogpla. |
Hosts:
Skip Stacy Loogpla
Cowden |
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September 28 (Sat) 2nd Edmonds Pier
Clean-up |
Hazardous
dive. Waiver required. Meet
8:30 AM for 1st dive Mandatory
Dive Briefing 9:00 AM 2nd
dive in afternoon. Plan on finishing about 3:00. |
Host:
Fran Murray 206-543-1866 |