www.emeraldseadiveclub.org

In This Issue

Guest Speaker

from the

will speak about the

President’s Corner

Night Diving? You want me to jump in the water, but it’s Dark!

Okay…. the first time I tried night diving I was told that if I was comfortable diving during the day then I would be comfortable diving at night. Well, I believed them so I took a night diver certification course. I remember thinking to myself for the first time sitting at the bottom of the ocean floor ‘what the heck am I doing down here.’ After a few moments of sitting still, my eyes began to adjust and marine life was everywhere, it was amazing! For some of you the thought of conquering night diving can be a bit "heebie-jeebie". However, with a little training and frequent dives it will become a piece of cake. Autumn is here so let’s enjoy NIGHT DIVING!

I just wanted to remind all of you to please dive the location that you are familiar with for the first time at night, unless you are on a commercial boat. Night dives do not last as long as day dives because divers tend to get chilled more quickly. Navigation can be a bit tricky, buoyancy can be challenging and vertigo can surprise you.

Remember to cover less territory and spend more time viewing the little things that come out at night. The number one rule: Never shine your light in another person’s eyes. To get another diver’s attention while at depth move your light beam back and forth – horizontally- across the area in your dive buddy’s path. Hand signals at night are useless, unless illuminated. Be sure to check your batteries in both your primary, back up dive light and your personal locator light.

Now that I have your attention, please check our calendar and plan to join your dive buddies for a dive or two. Not certified, yet? Look in to it…. Visit your favorite dive store and give it a try… See you in the dark at the bottom of the seafloor!

Everyone is encouraged to submit stories about their dives or any dive related topic.

The deadline for submissions is:

November 28

photo by: ErikGranroth

The contest is now closed. If you will not be at the November meeting you can vote for your favorite twelve photos by e-mailing your choices to esdcnewsletter@mindspring.com by November 15. You can see the entries at the club’s web-site: emeraldseadiveclub.org and click on the photo contest. Use the numbers accompanying the photo to indicate your selection. Remember-only two photos per photographer will go into the calendar.

Prizes and calendar price will be announced later.

Vote for your 12 favorite photos by recording the numbers below. They do not need to be in any particular order. You may vote only twice for any one photographer. Thank you.

1. _______________ 5. _______________ 9. _______________

2. _______________ 6. _______________ 10. _______________

3. _______________ 7. _______________ 11. _______________

4. _______________ 8. _______________ 12. _______________

Please circle or write in your choice:

Jill Keeler

Or write in: ____________________________________________

Rich Carton

Or write in: ____________________________________________

Laura Orlich

Or write in: ____________________________________________

Peggy McCrright

Katherine Heasley

Or write in: ____________________________________________

Johanna Raupe

Or write in: ____________________________________________

Pam Norton

Shawn Miller

Or write in: ____________________________________________

Write in for Member of the Year: this is the person you think did the most for the club and went above and beyond expectations. Remember, you cannot vote for anyone who has won in the past.

Welcome to ESDC: John Hynd, Adam Springer, Rory Engom, Robert Lischke and Ron Robertson. We look forward to getting to know you and diving with you.

Steven Berthinier

Hello All,

On Sept. 01, 2006 I got bent.

We had done 2 dives in Nanaimo. The first profile was to a max depth of 65ft for a total of 60 minutes. The second dive was to 90ft for a total of 60 minutes. We were above 35 ft for over 20 minutes before starting to the surface. We stopped at 15ft and did a 5-minute safety stop and then I took another minute to surface from 15ft. I was hydrated. I drank 6 or more pints of water during the day. We went back to the pier and unloaded the boat. The only heavy work was getting the tanks off the boat and into carts and carrying two cameras up the ramp to the truck. I had a full nights sleep. I do not drink any alcohol.

After unloading we headed to the Pub, at the end of the dock, to get something to eat. Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes after surfacing, I noticed vertigo. I thought it was just starvation. We had not eaten for over 8 hrs. I drank a pint of water and 1 Pepsi. The symptoms started to reduce…..for about 3 - 5 minutes. During that time I tried to get some food in me. Then the symptoms came back and increased. Within 3-5 minutes the room was out of control to my eyes. I told my buddies to call an ambulance. Then I started to vomit. One buddy went for oxygen and had the pub call for the ambulance. A diver with the other dive group diving with us went to the dive shop and called DAN.

I only had time to vomit 8 times, only! felt like I vomited up my insides, before the ambulance was there. My buddy came back with oxygen on a scuba regulator about 2 minutes before the ambulance arrived. I was not able to put the regulator in my mouth without setting off the gag reflex. The EMT crew did the standard interviewing while putting me on a non-rebreather mask. At that time the symptoms I had were extreme vertigo and vomiting caused by the vertigo. No pain anywhere. No numbness. No loss of muscle control, I was checking. According to one buddy my pulse was stable. No ringing in ears or muffled hearing. Before transporting me the EMT put me on an I.V. and gave me anti-nausea medication intravenously. Thankfully, that stopped the vomiting immediately. At the hospital in Nanaimo, the doctor checked me out and determined that I had inner ear barotrauma, probably because my symptoms did not reduce while on oxygen. In the meantime, my buddies had called DAN who directed the Nanaimo doctor to consult with the doctor at the chamber in Vancouver B.C. After consulting with the chamber doctor they put me back on oxygen and prepared to transport me to Vancouver General Hospital. At this point, one buddy pointed out to activate the "DAN Travel Assist", we had to arrange the transport through DAN. My buddies took care of that with DAN. I remained at Nanaimo hospital from 5pm until transport about 10:30pm. The helicopter flew at 500ft over the water but was required to climb to 2000ft over Vancouver. I did not notice any changes in symptoms with the altitude climb. Upon arrival at Vancouver General Hospital, they determined I was stable enough to wait for a carbon monoxide victim to arrive. I was on oxygen with a non-rebreather mask until 5am, Sept. 2^nd, when I was wheeled into the chamber.

In the chamber you wear this clear helmet shaped like a 5-gallon ice cream tub. You wear this helmet to receive 100% oxygen. They can switch from to air for the air breaks. The helmet sits on a collar with a latex seal, similar to a dry suit. During air breaks you can remove the helmet to eat or drink. They started me out with a Navy table six, 60ft for 5 hrs. Quite the dive considering the descent is at 60ft per minute. Diving at 60ft per minute in air feels like about 3 times faster than in water. In other words you are clearing at least 2 – 3 times every breath. Woohoo, what a way to start treatment! The symptoms pretty much went away at depth. The last hour they brought me up to 30ft, to evaluate me, and the symptoms recurred and that earned me 2 full extensions. After a total of eight hours I came out of the chamber with little improvement other than the nausea was gone.

I was sent up to the neurological ward for evaluation. That evening I was given a CAT scan with dye injected at the bottom of my neck. They looked from my neck up for any signs of blockage, bleeding, and strokes. Other than my normal large hollow space between my ears, where most people have brains, it all looked good. The doctor was concerned about the large space but Tina gleefully announced that was normal. Just kidding. She calmly explained….. OK. The doctors didn’t ask. I then got the full neurological exam. Yes, the one where they rake your instep, poke you with sharp things, use the dreaded tuning fork, follow the moving finger without moving your head and even ask you which way they are pointing your big toe. By this time of night I was able to stand, with support, but as soon as I tried to walk it felt like I was on an 80 degree down slope. I did pass both the CAT scan and neurological exam with flying colors though. Off to bed.

The next morning, Sept. 3rd, off to another chamber ride for 5hrs, Navy table 6. Symptoms where gone again at depth. After the chamber I was able to stand and walk. I may have looked like an old man…. but I was WALKING! When I returned to the neurological ward to await evaluation the neuro-nurse suggested a physiotherapist check me out. The Physiotherapist had me walk without aid, go up and down stairs, turn on the stairs, stand on one foot. Swing one foot out, like a pendulum, from my side, while keeping my body straight, back and forth. Rock forward and back, heel…..toe….heel. Some where timed and others were how many steps. I did not do any of the tests perfectly and had to use support. However, the Physiotherapist was very encouraging and gave me several exercises to help improve my balance. That was a great moral buster. I was then evaluated by the neurosurgeon and past the tests, again, but they were afraid I would forget I was sick and turn too fast and fall. Yeah, right. That’s like trying to forget you are way too drunk. So I did not go to the hotel but another night in the hospital instead.

I got another ride Sept 4^th for a little over 2 hours. Upon exiting the chamber the doctor was so satisfied with my progress they gave the OK for me to travel home. While I was in the chamber the Vancouver doctor had been conferring with the chamber at Virginia Mason about altitude changes from Vancouver, sea level, up and over Bellingham and down to Seattle. They determined there was only 1200 ft of elevation change, at this point and time it was not a significant change. Considering when they flew me in they popped me up to 2000 ft and that was only 6 hrs after symptoms.

On the Road to Seattle! After 4 hrs on the road, feeling every nook and crack, with no vomiting, we arrived in Seattle. I had a heck of a headache and acid stomach but made it home.

Sept 5^th I checked in with Virginia Mason and they set me up for a hearing test and consult with an otolaryngologist. Otolaryngologist specialty is inner ear disorders. They evaluated me to see if inner ear barotrauma was present. They also set me up for an electronystagmography…ENG, try saying that once, to see if I was OK to go into the chamber. They couldn’t get me an ENG appointment until Sept. 8th. So they sent me back to the chamber for my first chamber ride with V- M on Sept. 5^th. I completed my 4^th chamber ride. This one was to 30ft for 90 minutes plus travel. I had treatments Sept. 5^th, 6^th, and 7th with V-M. The symptoms changed over the first two chamber visits with V-M. Friday, Sept. 8^th we evaluated me and found no change from the 6th chamber ride. The protocol is to keep going to the chamber until it makes no difference. So I am done with the chamber for now.

Friday, Sept. 8^th I went in for my ENG. I won’t know the results of the ENG until Sept. 28th. I am going to my regular doctor to schedule me for a PFO screen. Bet you thought we had forgotten about that. I went for the Echo Cardio. Boy is that cool. They look at your heart with ultrasound. Yes, similar to what many of our childbearing members have experienced. You can see the valves open and close and they even color code the blood flow.

Now for the diagnosis. The Vancouver Chamber doctor called it Vestibular DCS. Vesta what? It is a general area statement covering the inner ear and the whole balance neuro network associated with balance.

Vestibular DCS is only supposed to occur in trimix divers on long dives or long rebreather dives. However, there are cases coming to the attention of the medical world of Vestibular DCS on normal profiles.

Inner ear barotrauma will cause similar symptoms but treatment in the chamber will worsen the damage.

Lessons Learned:

5. You will not always be responding from shore for a diving emergency.

Willow Moore-Mukherjee

We arrived into Belize City and took a small plane to San Pedro on Ambergris Cay.

Flying low over the water, we could see the reef along the coast as we approached the island. It was good that the houses were built up, off the ground, as there was some flooding due to seasonal rains. Our condo was located about 1.5 miles south of town so we rented a golf cart (the local means of transport), loaded the gear and got our first lesson on negotiating the very rutted sand road.

Robbie, at ambergrisdivers.com was our dive guide. He and Chuck just started their shop after working for others for years. They picked us up at the dock at our condo, brought us back to their dive shop/pier to go out on the larger dive boat ‘Who’s Your Daddy?’. Five minutes straight out to the reef and we were diving. Robbie likes to take his dives slow, getting to spend time seeing the sights. We were thrilled to float, kick and float! Perfect! The first day we dove the nearby reef area and coral beds with frequent sandy-bottomed cuts to explore. The variety of coral types and colors was a great background to the myriad reef fish, including barracudas and good size groupers. We felt spoiled having Robbie to ourselves.

After diving we were dropped at our dock again, rinsed our gear in the outside shower and jumped into the pool. Our second day diving we had to share Robbie with a chef from the Blue Water Grill. We dove the Hol Chan Reserve, drifting down one side, crawling across the channel hand over hand on the sand, and swimming against the current back along the other side. We saw big lobsters, spotted eel (pretty aggressive), swim through tunnels and schools of blue tangs, along with the normal parrotfish, wrasses, groupers, and snappers. In fact, I swear a group of yellowtail snappers made the whole circuit with us. Afterward we went to the ‘shark ray alley’ where our driver fed the nurse sharks chopped mackerel until they were swirling about, sliding over each other in a fight to get the food, then said time to jump in the water (he did encourage us to get in the opposite side from the sharks). He joined us snorkeling and caught a 4-foot long shark for us to hold and pet. They were so cooperative it was hard to believe they were wild and not trained. All this time the southern stingrays had been circling beneath us. Our guide clapped his hands together under the water and one of the rays swung around and came right to him, letting himself be picked up and even worn as a ‘hat’ by our guide.

Robbie had arranged for us to go on a 50 ft dive boat, Aquadives, the next day for a 3-dive trip to the blue hole and Lighthouse Cay. It was a very early start, 5:30 am, as it took 2 ½ hours to travel to the first dive site, the edge of the blue hole. The skies cleared and the sun came out for us. When we got into the water and looked down, all I could see were the many big sharks swimming round and round (black tips and nurse sharks). Our second dive was at Half Moon Cay. At the wall, I was fascinated by the black durgons and giant sponges. Lunch was provided on Half Moon Cay, a red booby reserve. Then we went on our final Belize dive at the aquarium and Lighthouse Cay wall. This dive seemed like Walt Disney had designed and built the whole area. We got to see an octopus change coloring moving from rock to sand to rock, as well as a queen angelfish. Thus ended the diving part of our trip. Robbie hooked us up with a friend who does guided trips on land, Carlos Gonzalez of CarlosPrivateAdventures.com. We drove ourselves from Belize City to San Ignacio, where we met up with Carlos to take a day trip to Tikal in Guatemala. He arranged for a van and driver to meet us at the border, and a wonderful guide Arturo ‘Luis’ Gonzalez (no relation) to meet us in Tikal. Luis has been guiding at Tikal, and studying Mayan lore for 20+ years. He was born and raised in the jungle areas, went to school in English-speaking Belize, and is a medicine man for his community. What a treat to get to learn about the jungle, plants, animals and Mayan mysticism as we walked around Tikal. We had time for one more adventure the next day with Carlos when he guided us on the not-to-be-missed rafting cave trip back in Belize.

MANATEE TRIP

Loogpla Cowden

Please join Marty & I for a very unique seven day trip to the beautiful Gulf Coast city of Crystal River, Florida. During this time of year the water is relatively warm. The temperature is a constant 72° F, which is a popular habitat, and a "winter home" for the largest concentration of the West Indian Manatee in North America. We will be snorkeling and swimming with the manatees in the morning, and diving in the afternoon. This trip is designed for both divers & non-divers. Here are the two options of the trip:

TRIP OPTION – SNORKELER: boat rentals, and entry fees to snorkel in Manatee Springs State Park.

TRIP OPTION – SCUBA DIVER: Includes the above, plus air fills and entry fees to Devil’s Den and Blue Grotto. We'll also be diving at Ginnie Springs(no cost).

For only $795.00 (approx.) and in addition to the above you’ll get R/T air Sea.-Tampa, 6 nights accommodation, 4 days snorkeling w/ manatees, 4 days – 2 tanks diving.

Please check your calendar, we love to have you join us. For additional information please contact Marty at mrtyleonard@msn.com or myself at the meeting or at loogplacowden@att.net

Loogpla Cowden

Please join Marty & I for some fantastic diving in the Beautiful Netherlands Antilles Islands of Bonaire during the week of March 2-10, 2007. The reefs around Bonaire are some of the most beautiful ones in the world. Located 50 miles North of Venezuela, Bonaire is the second largest of the Netherlands Antilles Islands. It’s 24 miles long and 3-7 miles wide. With a population of 12,000, Papiamento is the local language with Dutch being the official language, most resident also speak Spanish and English. SO, DON’T WORRY!

Earlier this year we’ve announced the trip, and at this time ten ESDC divers and one non-diver is confirmed. We would love your company. For additional information, please contact Marty Leonard at mrtyleonard@msn.com or Loogpla Cowden at loogplacowden@att.net please check your calendar and plan to join us for this unhurried, unspoiled and unforgettable paradise!

 Willow Moore-Mukherjee

Planning a trip to Nainamo area to dive the airplane reef and other great sites arriving December 2nd , diving the 3rd and 4th. We have a package with Island Dive and a B & B with 2 days of 2 dives/day, lodging and all meals included for $240/ person! Great Price, Great Dives (even warm water on the boat!). Only room for 2 more divers. Let me know as soon as you can! Presently Loogpla, Goutam and myself are going.

December 16

There will be a pot-luck dinner, door prizes, raffles, dive charter give-a-ways, classes, ESDC wear and trips. The winners of the calendar photo contest will be announced and the calendars will be available for purchase. More information will be in the December newsletter.

Everyone is encouraged to submit a paragraph or two about themselves. How and why you got interested in diving, where’s your favorite dive site and what you enjoy most about diving are all subjects you could include. Don’t be bashful, tell us about yourself.

1.  Port Authority Fleece Vest R-TEK - #JP79

2.  Port Authority Polo Shirt KP 60? 

3.  Jackets: black – 754-BK  gold –754-GD

4.  Jackets: All Season, men’s & women’s – black 779-BK

5.  Full Fleece Zip Jacket – available in black – 77-BK, midnight heather 77-MH

Available both men’s & women’s styles

Members can order directly from Dan Singley at www.thelogopress.com

FREEDOM ORDER – Have the ESDC logo embroidered on blankets or any article of clothing.

Personally customized by Rodney Windhorst: lsvision@earthlink.net

Be sure you have your ESDC membership card with you when you go shopping at dive shops—you just never know. If you find a dive shop that offers you a discount for being an ESDC member 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 Skip Stacy, 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 or Loogpla Cowden, loogplacowden@att.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, November 1 at Alfy’s Pizza

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 Rich Carton addcorich@verizon.net

Secretary/historian Mary Lou Hernandez hmarylou@hotmail.com

Treasurer Willow Moore-Mukherjee dr.moore@verizon.net

Activities Coordinator Skip Stacy skipstacy@aol.com

Newsletter Editor David Ripley esdcnewsletter@mindspring.com

Big Buddy Coordinator 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.