www.emeraldseadiveclub.org

In This Issue

Guest Speaker

CATCH (buy) & COOK

The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the most remarkable underwater sites on the planet. However, scuba diving in the PNW is renown to scuba divers as the prime-harvesting site in most of Puget Sound. Although octopus is a precious marine creature to human kind it is also in our food chain..

It is a known fact that the Orient has been eating octopus since the beginning of time. Did you know that in Greece the Greek diver seeks out the octopus, one critter that’s still in abundance and one of the absolute delights of the Greek table?

You can buy fresh octopus at Larry’s Market, and at Uwajimaya in China Town (Seattle). You can create a scrumptious meal with octopus. Here is a recipe you can prepare using squid, which is widely available, but if you use the octopus, it’s better. Enjoy:

INGREDIENTS:

3 lb. octopus or whole squid, cleaned Juice of 2 lemons

1 ½ cup olive oil 1 ½ TBSP fresh oregano*, chopped

¾ cup red wine vinegar 1 TBSP basil*, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced Salt and ground black pepper

PROCEDURE:

1). In a large stockpot, bring water to a boil and reduce to simmer. Add octopus to the pot and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove octopus and chill.

2). Place cooled octopus in a deep casserole dish. Season octopus with salt and black pepper. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, lemon juice oregano and basil to make the marinade. Pour marinade over the octopus. Let octopus marinate and refrigerate of 8 to 10 hours.

3). Preheat grill. Remove octopus from the marinade. (Discard marinade) Grill octopus for 10 minutes. Turn over and grill for an additional 10 minutes.

4). Remove octopus from the grill. Chop octopus into pieces and serve while hot. Serve six. ENJOY!

*substitute with dried oregano and basil - Okay

Open to all members of the ESDC.

Each member may submit up to three photographs per month through October 5.

Bring them to the club meetings where they will be displayed for all to see and/or e-mail them to me and I will forward them to Phil so he can put them on the club web site

Considering top three for yet to be announced but undoubtedly spectacular prizes to be awarded at the Christmas Party.

Also considering creating a calendar for 2006 using the top twelve photographs.

If the calendar is created any one contributor will be limited to no more than three photographs.

In order to open the competition to more members, photographs may be of above water (diving related) subjects as well as underwater subjects.

Voting to be done by all members of ESDC casting one vote each for their top twelve choices.

Deadline for submissions is October 5, 2005.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions contact David Ripley at the club meeting

or at esdcnewsletter@mindspring.com

Deadline for submissions:

July 25—for the August newsletter

August 29—for the September newsletter

September 26—for the October newsletter

October 24—for the November newsletter

November 28—for the December newsletter

..

Skip Stacy

Here’s a dive trip to get everyone's minds off the back to school rush and welcome in the good viz. time of year after all the summers algae blooms and warmer weather.

The weather will still be comfortable and we are hoping the northern waters around Quadra Island will be clearer   Join Loogpla and I for 4 days away from the Seattle Buzz on Sept. 22 thru 25 to go up north to dive with Earl and his family and enjoy the hospitality of Abyssal Dive Charters and Lodge.  This area has some of the best diving the NW has to offer.  We start with a relaxing ferry ride to Dukes Point near Nanaimo and for those who wish, you may visit Ian for a quick dive or dive Madrona Point a little further north or just meander north and eat and browse along the way.

Check in at the lodge and relax or get a shore dive in.   Friday-Sat-Sun morning  will be six boat dives in such places as the HMCS Columbia or the many wall dives like Copper Cliffs, Row-N-Be Damned or Steep Island.  See more Puget Sound king crab then anywhere I've ever been and acres and acres of bright strawberry anemone with schools of herring and rockfish, rock and swimming scallops.  Big-Big-BIG lingcod, cloud sponges and all sorts of nudibranches, coming up shallower to watch abalone's inch around on the rocks.  Back to the lodge for a hot lunch between dives and then to top the days diving off with a gourmet dinner and some socializing and a dip in the hot tub or short walk to the shops and store to do some browsing.  I have never had a chance to explore the east side of Quadra so that might get done on this trip also.  Don’t miss out on this.  Like someone said "90% of life is just showing up) and you'll be glad you showed up for this trip.  All meals, lodging and diving in this package for right around $438 Canadian (and I think that was tax included)   More information to follow or contact

Skip or Loogpla.          

Skip    425-775-2410

I’ve seen them before when I would go to summer camp.  Sitting in the shallow water of Sunset Lake.  I had heard from my dive buddies that we can go fish for them.  I was hoping to get to get in the water.  I was desperate for some action so I called my faithful dive buddy Brian.  With no hesitation he said heck ya lets go.  We got in the fresh water.  It was my first time in a lake. Well I don't want to tell you how we did, alright we did OK not even close to the limit.  Too much silt with no current.  It was hard to see once we started.   Talk about hard work.  I want to tell you, at the end of our fist dive we found a 21 speed mountain bike, you know the nice one with the shocks aluminum frame with all the bells and whistles. 

      I'll tell you I never seen so many beer cans and trash in a water environment.  Do everybody a favor and keep it clean. The fish and the craw fish will appreciate it.        

__________________________________________________

Rose Lyn Tadlock

There were lots of great responses to the ESDC Member Survey. The intent of the survey was to get feedback from the membership on current club activities, communications and events, and to get ideas for additional activities going forward.

The favorite club activity was far and away "DIVING." According to the survey, Camp Casey is one of the favorite activities--the Civic dives are popular among our membership.

A recurring theme throughout the responses was the meeting with great friends and meeting new members, and new dive buddies, and learning new dive information. Sharing information and learning from contacts were other benefits mentioned. A surprising number indicated the Holiday Party as a favored event.

Of course, MORE DIVING was on the surveys—more shore dives and a suggestion for a fun dive every weekend, as well as more dives out of the area.

As for the types of dives members where likely to attend, the Weekend Day dives was by far the most chosen, followed by Weekend Trip dives, then Weekday after Work dives. Other dive activities there were interest in included spear fishing, equipment maintenance, and more fun dives like the poker dive.

A lot of our membership participates regularly in the Monthly meetings, and enjoy the chatting, visiting, food and drink. There was interest in hearing more about recent dives of club members, and more dive stories. Also, upcoming dives are announced, but the not the exact locations—though these are familiar to current members, new members don’t know where they are.

The Guest Speakers at the meetings got high marks as well. A suggestion was made to hear from special interest groups on dive topics, and a speaker or session on equipment maintenance.

There was very positive response to the newsletter and to the website, and favorable comments in general about the club communication. The ESDC "One List" on the internet is also popular for last-minute dives, though it was suggested that those who need to reply directly to an individual on the list do so by emailing them directly.

The Photo contest was mentioned as a great idea, but want to see more entries and interest, and also a suggestion for more specific information available for planned dives to help members decide whether to book them or not.

One area of note for improvement was club business development, in terms of greater focus on where the club is going for the future.

There was mention for a need for continued growth of the club through membership drives, and kudos to those who resurrected the Big Buddy Program.

Dick Byce/courtesy of Bruce Bury

I went scuba diving yesterday, and had an incredible experience which I wanted to share with everyone. I got together with some friends and we went diving at a Kauai north-shore beach called ‘Tunnels’ (called that because its reef has lots of tunnels and caves).

We walked into the water at this wonderfully beautiful beach and swam down along the reef to a depth of 55 feet. The lava rock reef has incredible features with lots of swim-throughs (tunnels) and caves. As you swim over the top of some areas you can find bubbles percolating up through the porous rock from the divers who are inside the caves and tunnels below.

We saw lots of tropical Hawaiian fish, of which approximately 25% are found in Hawaiian waters only. Swimming around the reef we found several moray eels sticking their heads out of holes in the reef. They look very threatening with their sharp teeth and their mouths opening and closing. They are just breathing by moving their mouths, and they are quite curious about these strange looking human-fish making lots of bubbles.

Navigating through the swim-throughs, we find a 6 foot white-tip reef shark, who really would like some privacy so he can get some sleep inside one of the caves, but these divers keep reappearing all the time. He swam by us about 5 feet away as he looked for an exit.

One of my friends guides island visitors around this reef almost every day, and he lead us across a sandy bottom, then stopped at a 3 foot square rock. He indicated we should settle on the bottom and watch him closely. He took a deep breath, removed his regulator, opened his mouth very wide and moved his face very close to this big rock. Immediately, two very small shrimp jump right into his mouth and begin cleaning his teeth and gums. It was a fish cleaning station, where fish constantly stop and allow the shrimp to clean their skin and gills, removing dead skin and parasites.

Now it’s my turn to get my mouth cleaned. I moved my open mouth close to the rock and these two shrimp jump into my mouth and begin cleaning my teeth and gums! It feels like a light feather tickling inside my mouth. When I needed to breathe again, I just exhale slightly, they jump back on their rock and I replace my regulator in my mouth and begin breathing again. This was probably the most incredible experience I have ever had underwater. It’s just amazing how enthusiastic these shrimp are about jumping into someone’s mouth!

Back on shore, I asked my friend how these shrimp taste if you close your mouth too fast, and he said they are so quick that it’s just about impossible to eat them. Besides, it would be a shame to eat these friendly guys. Hey, go to Red Lobster if you really want to eat shrimp.

Unfortunately we did not have a camera with us, but I‘m going to go back again for photos and video. If you want a fantastic experience, come to Kauai and get your teeth cleaned underwater!

Dick Byce

Paradise Kauai

www.ParadiseKauai.net

RECOGNIZING A STROKE - A true story

Courtesy of Bruce Bury

Susie is recuperating at an incredible pace for someone with a massive stroke all because Sherry saw Susie stumble - -that is the key that isn't mentioned below - and then she asked Susie the 3 questions. So simple - - this literally saved Susie's life. Some angel sent it to Suzie's friend and they did just what it said to do. Suzie failed all three so 911 was called. Even though she had normal blood pressure readings and did not appear to be having a stroke as she could converse to some extent with the Paramedics they took her to the hospital right away. Thank God for the sense to remember the 3 steps!

Read and Learn!


Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

*Ask the individual to SMILE.

*Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

*Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE.

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

Did you know that when you show your ESDC membership card at Starfish Dive Shop you receive a 10% discount? Did you know that if you show your ESDC membership card at Northwest Sport Dive you get a free air fill? Be sure you have your ESDC membership card with you when you go shopping at dive shops—you just never know.

If other shops give you a discount please let us know and we will publish their name.

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 Greg Becvar, 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. This offer is only good one time per calendar year.

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!

4820 196^th SW

Lynnwood WA

425-775-5459

Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.; everyone is welcome to join. General meeting, 7:00 p.m.

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 Loogpla Cowden loogplacowden@att.net

Vice-President Steve Berthinier resoyrua@verison.net

Secretary/historian Rose Lyn Tadlock tadloro2002@yahoo.com

Treasurer Cheng-Hui Wong chengwong@comcast.net

Activities Coordinator Greg Becvar tridoxia@yahoo.com

Newsletter Editor David Ripley esdcnewsletter@mindspring.com

Big Buddy Coordinators Skip Stacy skipstacy@aol.com

Wendy Drucker astromoi@earthlink.net

Greeter Shawn Miller shawnm1833@yahoo.com

Web Master Phil Morgan-Ellis pmorg@olympus.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 www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ESDClist

₪ Greg Becvar

360-659-2853

tridoxia@yahoo.com

₪ Bruce Bury –PADI rescue

425-788-8063

bury1of6@aol.com

₪ Jason Miller –Rescue

425-778-7548

Jason.t.miller@comcast.net

₪ Skip Stacy – rainy days

425-775-2410

₪ John Laggart –weekday dives

jmnlaggart@msn.com

If you are interested in being included on this list please contact the editor.

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