www.emeraldseadiveclub.org

City of Shoreline Beach Walk and Dive

Fund Raising For the Annual Picnic

Mukilteo Kindergarten

Richmond Beach Critter Collection

Speaker of the Month

Upcoming Fun Dives

2004 Board Officers

Dive & Event Calendar

Dive Site of the Month

Divers on the Loose

Editor’s Column

How to Contact Us

Our Next Meeting

President’s Column

Sea Stories

Sound Life of the Month

Submission Deadlines

Guy Balbirona

Aloha from Hawaii . . . I hope that this post finds everyone prosperous and well. Luckily, I found a friend who has AOL so that I am finally able to send some communication about what is going on with me here.

Sorry if anyone has tried to contact me through our list. This is the first chance I have had to access my e-mail. I was hoping to access my own mail to give the board a heads-up with what is going on but I am not able to so the onelist will have to do. I am still in Hawaii and the situation with my mom has not improved. Presently, she is on her third week of radiation therapy for some swelling in her legs, and the cancerous lump on her throat is hardening. She is enduring the treatments she has been on and medications she has been taking. My situation is that I want to stay to try to preserve the family unit.

I apologize to the club and the board members for not being able to honor the commitment to the club as president but it was truly my intent to make it back on May 7, but now I am in the process of securing employment here and do not know when I can return. Please forgive any inconvenience this presents and know that my heart is with you all even while I am here.

I have made a lot of trips to the beach to surf and have been active with a canoe club. Believe it or not, I have not been underwater with the scuba gear, yet! Not a single dive so far. Had to pack my tools instead of my scuba gear on this trip!

Well, take care all and send some healing energy through the Ethernet to my mom . . . Malama Pono, Ahui Ho! (Editor’s note: loosely translated--Blessings to All!)

David L Ripley

I have heard a much-repeated comment while the club has been in the midst of discussing "official business": dues increase, surcharge for club sponsored dives, what the by-laws allow or do not, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. The comment was in this vein—"isn’t diving supposed to be fun?"

The answer is yes. Diving is supposed to be fun and being in a dive club is supposed to make it that much more fun. True, anytime a group of people come together for whatever endeavor there is bound to be tension. It is a fact of life. No two, or forty, people will ever agree on every issue all of the time. There will be disagreements, arguments and perhaps hard feelings but as adults we have the responsibility to—Get Over It. Lighten up and not take everything quite so seriously. If we cannot have fun what is the point?

And fun we had, or at least I did, on Sunday May 23, at the Richmond Beach critter collection hosted by Elena DiPardo. She could not have arranged a better day. Everything was perfect except the visibility, but then, when is that ever perfect. To the best of my recollection about a dozen divers were on hand to fill the wadding pools with eager critters waiting to have their stories told by Fran Murray and company to the numerous and curious landlubbers.

Sunday was a perfect example of what diving is all about—of what a club is all about. True, though it may have not been the most challenging and exciting dive, it was the type of dive that yields uncounted benefits. We were in the water, which is always a good thing, but more importantly, we shared with others what we see and experience underwater, hopefully encouraging interest and concern for the sea life in Puget Sound as well as an interest in the sport of scuba diving.

Thanks again to all who participated; especially many thanks to Elena for providing and cooking lunch and to the others who contributed to the menu. I am looking forward to the next one.

Thank you to all who purchased cookies at the April meeting. Laura sold twelve dozen for a grand total of $60.00 that goes into the picnic fund. Bring lots of money to the June meeting to buy more cookies. Other people will be baking besides Laura. Thanks for volunteering—you know who you are!

Our usual club meeting will be held July 7^th; however, there is no speaker because this is the night of our annual club dive at Edmonds Underwater Park. Be sure to bring your dive gear to the meeting so you do not miss out on the dive! This dive is being hosted by David and Darlene.

Mukilteo kindergarten class will be at Mukilteo Park to observe sea critters, Saturday, June 16 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Please phone Jack Titterness, 206-456-9090, for more information. We did this last year and had a great time. Lots of children!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 26 because that is the date and Edmonds City Park is the place for our annual picnic. Big Buddy Coordinator Sharan Smith is hosting the dive; which will meet at 11 a.m. and Laura Orlich is hosting the picnic; which will be at 1 p.m. Stay tuned for more and probably different details, and do not forget to purchase cookies at the meetings to fund this picnic.

Please meet at the Hood Sport Dive parking lot, 9:00 a.m. For directions please contact:

http://www.hoodsportndive.com/contact.htm. There is a $15.00 park entrance fee to be paid at the dive shop. Splash 10:00 a.m. Be sure to bring items for potluck picnic/tailgate party afterward. We will have a small BBQ for grilling.

Loogpla Cowden

As the club liaison for the City of Shoreline, I am happy to announce that this is our seventh year supporting the City of Shoreline’s Beach Walk and Critter Dive Event. Once again, the city has invited Emerald Sea Dive Club to participate in this event and we are happy to accept the invitation. Please mark you calendar for the following dates: Sunday, Sunday, June 20^th 12:00 p. m. – 3:00 p. m. hosted by Skip and Loogpla; and Saturday, July 17^th 10:30 a. m. to 1:30 p. m. hosted by Guy, and July 31^st 10:30 a.m. hosted by Willow and Laura.

Emerald Sea Dive Club provides safe recreational SCUBA diving, underwater education, underwater presentations, and volunteer civic events such as: Earth Day, underwater clean up of bed lands, tidelands, and public fishing piers. I want to fully express my sincere thanks to all who contribute to making us the BEST dive club in the Pacific Northwest!

Wendy Drucker

As divers we have all been taught, "Don’t touch anything. Don’t bother the animals—we are merely tourists in their world." As members of the Emerald Sea Dive Club we have rare opportunities to interact with the marine creatures on our collection dives at Camp Casey and Richmond Beach. We justify these special collections because they enlighten non-divers, teaching them to respect the life below the waves, and because we take care that the animals come to no harm.

These notes are my personal observations and are intended for our many new members, and for everyone else who needs them.

1. When you remove a creature from its home you are responsible for its well-being during the collection and on the return to shore. At Richmond Beach we are collectively responsible for the creatures on shore and during their return to their homes.
2. Critters collected at Camp Casey are in good hands with Keith Ludeman, the resident marine biologist. At Richmond Beach it is we who have to take care of them after they are brought ashore.
3. Handle the creature very gently. If you can’t get it into your bag or jar without harming it, just leave it alone.
4. If you have to uproot it or forcibly pry it off a rock, you may hurt it. Just leave it. At Richmond Beach visitors will be able to look at critters such as limpets, chitons, and anemones in the tidal pools.
5. California sea cucumbers (the big orange-brown ones) do not fare well in the Richmond Beach touch pools. Aquarium volunteers have reported them washing ashore dead after we leave. I no longer bring these poor guys in.
6. Grabbing fish is great fun for us but bad for the fish. You can trap or net a fish, but if you have to seize it with your hands and grip it, you are probably hurting it. Their bones and organs are no match for your strength. Just because it swims away doesn’t mean it isn’t mortally wounded.
7. Large crabs are not suitable for kiddies’ touch pools. Think little fingers and big pinchers.
8. Think about the mix you are creating in your bag. If you want to bring in a Pycnipodia (sunflower star) leave it for last to collect. There are plenty of them. If you put it in your bag at the beginning of the dive it might eat some of your other catches. Same for other large starfish. (If you have any crabs in your bag, the stars will often willingly cling to the outside for the swim in.)
9. The water in the touch pools at Richmond Beach warms up quickly. Cold sea water has to be added frequently. These critters cannot tolerate warm water. At the end of your dive, instead of stripping off your gear and heading for the food, take a turn hauling in buckets of cold water. The beach volunteers try, but it is much easier for someone wearing an exposure suit. Also, someone in a suit needs to take the animals back to their home.
10. Your first concern is, of course, your personal safety, and your buddy’s safety. But beyond that, your primary consideration as a collector must be the life and well-being of each creature you take. You volunteered—they didn’t!

Greg Becvar, Diveyaker (newbie)

Mukilteo Oil Dock by Kayak

On May 2^nd a few kayak divers, AKA Diveyakers put their vessels into the water NE of Mukilteo Oil Dock. The group consisted of Buck, Loogpla, Skip, Brad, and me.

I was the only new diveyaker in the group. Loogpla gave me some pointers on setting up and how-to for kayak diving. As we began to stroke toward the dock the paddle kept spinning in my hands. Note to self, next time no gloves. I paddled a reasonably straight line following in Skip’s wake. Brad was close behind. At the pilings we tied up and got our fins on; now for the tricky part, getting the rest of the gear on in the water. I did a quick recheck of the gear and dumped it overboard. Then I slid into the water next to the BC. At this point, having integrated weights or partially integrated weights in the BC would have helped. Because of my weight belt I had to kick to keep from sinking. I struggled into my pack with some difficulty before swimming over to Skip and Brad who were trying to get Skip’s BC on. With a little team work we managed to get most of his straps and hoses in the right places. After a quick breather we started down. Visibility improved as we descended, going from pea soup to about 10 to 12 feet of visibility at the bottom. Skip led the way as we meandered back and forth through pilings. Crabs were scrambling and digging in everywhere. I saw a saddle back gunnel on one of the passes. When Skip started getting low on air we started back to the kayaks.

After we got under the boats Skip suggested Brad and I continue the dive. Brad and I looked at each other and gave the universal signal for "What do you want to do?" I made the executive decision to terminate the dive. We made a slow controlled ascent, inspecting the wondrous life that thrives on the pilings as we came up. At the surface we decided we would stay in the water and tow in the kayaks. This proved more tiring than I expected.

Finally, I got back onboard and paddled in. Skip’s daughters were onshore when we arrived. They helped us schlep our gear and kayaks up from the water. A plan for lunch was soon put into action. I called my wife Laura for clearance and we were off to a Mexican restaurant. Elena, Steve, and Gerry (sp?) joined us, as they were at the T-dock teaching students. A good dive, a good meal, and good friends…who needs anything more ;-)

Skip Stacy

SQUAMISH-PORTEAU COVE WEEKEND

It was a rainy start to a three day weekend. We were out to get wet anyway and the rain was good for crowd control. We had a leisurely drive northbound with a stop for coffee and a couple of hours in the Skagit Casino to try to win the weekend followed by a nice lunch. No big losses, which made it fun, who likes to lose.

Onward to Vancouver for a stop at a vegetable and fruit stand for snacks and stir fry items then a tour of areas of Vancouver I have not been in (were we really lost or sightseeing?). With the Horseshoe Bay ferry finally in the rear view mirror we were off to Squamish for dinner the easy way, buffet. After a long day it was time to check into the room. Dryden Creek Resort was just off the highway enough to be quaint and peaceful. Well kept and private, it offered camp, RV sites, and little second floor A-frame cottages with kitchens with a lot of comfort; so much so leaving for the evening was out of the question.

Sleep came real easy . . . until the knock Saturday morning with Elena DiPardo ready to dive Porteau Cove. We were off and running again, with a stop at McD's for a quick breakfast. Porteau Cove is a little underwater marine park modeled after Edmonds but on a smaller scale. We decided to surface swim all the way out to the farthest buoy, which was on the wreck of the Nakaya. The Nakaya is a 115 foot (36 meters) Japanese vessel that was sunk in 1985 to make a habitat for divers. I could not believe it when I got down the visibility was fantastic—70’+, which made the wreck one of my best dives of the year. Loogpla, Elena, and I made it near the old toilet off the bow where we turned around and toured all the way back underwater. We saw another wreck a little bigger than the Nakaya on the way back and a concrete and a tire structure with dry dock size ling cod all over. A little harbor seal followed us around and each time Loogpla kicked it took a bite at her fins. I do not think it connected but Elena and I watched for a minute or so and I do not think Loogpla even noticed.

Mark and Laura showed up and we all went to lunch right down the road at Britannia Beach, site of British Columbia Museum of Mining with another dive site across the highway. Lunch was really good and we were on the way back to Porteau Cove for a second dive. We told Mark and Laura about the wreck and visibility and elected to do it all over again. Visibility had decreased a little but it was still nice and we took almost the same route back but found a steel bridge structure to add to our finds and this time the seal nipped at Laura's fins. Back on land again Mark and Laura wanted to do a second dive and Elena a third dive so they dove while Loogpla and I got dinner and the BBQ ready. I think I zonked out by the BBQ while Loogpla was working; dinner was really good and we had a couple of kinds of chocolate for dessert. Elena decided to make the long drive back while the rest of us bit the dust.

Sunday we missed the dive shop for air so we toured Squamish Spit for a hike and small picnic. We decided to do the tourist bit at the Museum of Mining. It was a good decision with a lot of Northwest and Native history. All of us learned to gold pan from Yukon Dan of Twassen. He is a silver medal winning gold panner (I did not know they had competitions). Competitors have to find a certain amount of gold in a certain amount of time. Twassen gave us lessons and we were allowed to keep what we found. Then we took a mine tour in a miner’s train; Mother’s Day cake was included (I snuck about three extras of that). That completed and a couple shops and we headed toward Vancouver. With memories of the wreck and visibility in my mind, as the Governor of California would say, "I'll be back". We enjoyed a nice peaceful dinner at the Horseshoe Bay waterfront and were home by dark with dreary thoughts of work the next day. We are going back and when it is planned we will hope for you to join us.

Darlene Ripley

Did you ever hear the one about . . . the 40 pound trout that got away? What about the mega ton grey whale that was resting at the Junkyard at Alki 50 feet off shore?

I had that little guy on the end of my pole and he pulled, and I stuck with him, and he pulled and I stuck with him, and he pulled and I stuck with him yadda, yadda, yadda, he got away. You know where it went, do you not? Of course, Admiral Kirk and his crew beamed it up to take it into the future. What else?

You could win a $50.00 ESDC check by hosting club dives. Every time you sponsor a club dive your name "goes into a hat" and twice a year a raffle will be held and one person from each drawing will receive $50.00 from ESDC as a Thank You for sponsoring dives, friendships, and fun! Remember, a club dive is a dive approved by Rich Carton, Activities Coordinator, and placed on the clip-board and on the ESDC web-site. This is a great way to meet club members and have lots of fun. Book your dives today! Remember: the more dives you book the more chances you have of winning.

When you take a class that furthers your diving experience, such as Advanced Open Water, Rescue, Dive Master, etc., show The Board your certification card and you will receive a congratulatory $15.00.

E-mail Jason Miller, our mailing list moderator, jason.t.miller@comcast.net,

to be put on the ESCD yahoo group mailing list (www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ESDClist) where you can communicate with other members regarding various dive topics, find dive buddies, or let everyone know about a planned dive that did not make it to the newsletter or clipboard in time. Join the list so YOU won’t be left out!

Wednesday, June 2

Alfy’s Pizza

4820 196^th SW

Lynnwood WA

425-775-5459

Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.; everyone is welcome to join these meetings

General meeting, 7:00 p.m.

Elena DiPardo

Please join us to hear the adventures of a very special guest speaker, Bill High. Bill has spent more than 365 days of his working career underwater in four undersea laboratories, and five different deep submersibles. As a commercial and sport diver, Bill was a hospital and field medic, sport and commercial fisherman, sky diver, hunter, and witness to the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. He rode the back of a wild killer whale and swam with more than 1000 dolphins. For more than 50 years he sought adventure above and below the ocean.

Today Bill is President of PSI, Inc., a training company for inspectors of scuba and SCBA cylinders. He is a prolific writer having authored or co-authored several technical books and more than 150 articles. His photographs have appeared as covers and within national magazines as well as government publications such as the NOAA Diving Manual.

If we are lucky, he will have copies of his book "Beneath the Sea" available for purchase and autographing.

Heading north on I-5: take exit 181B (196^th St SW/Alderwood Mall Pkwy). At the top of the exit there is a stop light, turn left. At the next stop light turn left onto 196^th St SW proceeding to 48^th. Alfy’s is on the south side of the road. (Alfy’s is 4 blocks down from The Rock.)

Heading south on I-5: take exit number 181 (Lynnwood). At the top of the exit there is a stop light, turn right onto 196^th St SW, proceed to 48^th. Alfy’s is on the south side of the road. (Alfy’s is 4 blocks down from The Rock.)

President Guy Balbirona kaikanuni@aol.com

Vice-President Elena DiPardo edipardo@u.washington.edu

Secretary/historian Laura Orlich lorlich@ssoe.com

Treasurer Willow Moore dr.moore@verizon.net

Activities Coordinator Rich Carton addcorich@verizon.net

News Letter Editor David Ripley esdcnewsletter@mindspring.com

NL Editor’s Secretary Darlene Ripley esdcnewsletter@mindspring.com

Big Buddy Coordinator Sharan Smith sjsmith0@gte.net

Webmaster Phil Morgan pmorg@olmpus.net

Greeter Loogpla Cowden loogpla@att.net

Visit our web-site: www.emeraldseadiveclub.org

Write us: Emerald Sea Dive Club

PO Box 73

Edmonds WA 98020

Contact any of the board members via telephone or e-mail.

Month for newsletter Deadline

July June 28

August July 26

September August 23

October September 27

November October 25

December November 22

₪ Bruce Bury

425-788-8063

bury1of6@aol.com

₪ Skip Stacy – rainy days

425-775-2410

₪ Guy Balbirona – anytime after work (3:30)

425-252-1632

₪ Jason Miller -- Rescue 425-778-7548

Jason.t.miller@comcast.net

₪ Mike Bevan

work: 425-788-0595

home: 425-788-1015

₪ Greg Becvar

425-670-3978

tridoxia@yahoo.com

₪ Jim Sawyer -- Rescue Certified

425-335-5312

jpsmrvideo@aol.com

*Please note: this dive has changed from Skyline Marina Wall in Anacortes.