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February 2009 Newsletter Volume 37, Number 2 |
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Reminder Your 2009 Membership Dues are due. The dues remain at $40.00 per member. Please make out your checks to Under Sea Adventurers and mail them to: Pat Smith Thanks Pat Smith Michelle McComb, Sr Researcher in FAU’s Biological Sciences Department, will give us a presentation about the visual systems of sharks, skates and rays. Their Visual Fields, color vision, speed of vision and their electrosensory system.
Larry LePage They’re here!
On the first day of this year, Joe Marino was diving just outside the Hillsboro Inlet, when he came upon and photographed this small invasive lionfish. When REEF (REEF.org) was notified, a seek-and-collect mission was mounted, without success. On that same day, and within ¼ mile, another diver collected a juvenile lionfish. Unfortunately, it appears to be a different fish. We’ve been worrying about the impact of the inevitable invasion, so anything we can do to stave it off is important. In the Bahamas, a single lionfish was enjoyed as a novelty for months. Then a second was seen, and within a few more months, they were everywhere. Eradication attempts are in process but there’s little hope of controlling them. They are pretty, but bold. They are voracious, eating anything from tropicals to juvenile grouper and snapper. They have no local predators. They are incredibly prolific. They are sexually mature when they are only inches long. Unlike most fish which have a batch of eggs once or twice a year, lionfish reproduce regularly, spawning thousands of eggs. Once they are established, they seem impossible to contain, with serious impacts on the local habitat. Let’s not let them get a foothold here, like they have in the Bahamas. So, what will you do when you see one? When REEF goes out, they are equipped with two clear vinyl collection nets with mesh bottoms, needle-proof gloves, and a transparent dry bag. (See the store section at www.REEF.org) These fish have incredibly painful venom that is introduced by their fin spines. Do not risk physical contact unless you are prepared for a visit to the local ER. Smaller fish are difficult to spear and, if you miss, you’ll teach them to hide from divers. So, what should YOU do when you see one? For now, please, please, establish the location and let the professionals and their volunteers capture them. How to mark the location: If diving on small/private boats:
If diving on larger/commercial boats:
Then, contact REEF at http://www.reef.org/lionfish and file an exotic species report. Thanks for helping protect our reefs, Robert Shearer
This past weekend 8 of us enjoyed a January local dive with the Narcosis out of the Riviera Beach Marina. Our goal was to meet, have a good time, dive and see some sharks. This is the time of year the Lemon Sharks are spotted around this area in abundance. We also saw some Caribbean Reef Sharks, Bull Sharks and Nurse Sharks. The first dive site was the Zion Train, a series of wrecks, and the second was on the site called Area 51. The viz on the first site was very good. A little less so on the second dive with more particulate in the water. Okay, many of you are thinking “so, what was the water temp?”. We were reading 68-70°, according to where you were in the water when you checked or who you talked to on the boat. It was a nice day. The seas were calmer even than expected. It was expected 2-3 feet seas and we had less than 2. The air temps were in the mid 70s and we had sun most of the day. The Narcosis supplied hot water and cup-a-soup, cocoa mix and teas to help keep the divers’ core temperatures up during the surface interval. Kathy and John brought brownies and fresh cut pineapple. After the dives we gathered and enjoyed some more visiting and lunch at the Seaside Tiki Restaurant. If that sounds like fun you may want to consider joining in on the next dives. Kathy and John have us scheduled for a dive with Parrot Island Dive Charters in February and with South Florida Dive Headquarters in March. See elsewhere in this newsletter or web site for more information on these local dives. The water will warm up, eventually, I promise. We have a bike ride scheduled for this coming weekend in Davie. It will be followed by lunch as a group. The second Adopt-a-Street clean-up is scheduled the following weekend. They are taking a wait list at this time. Who knew cleaning up litter could be such fun! As with everything planned by Russ, and the Social Butterflies, a good time should be had by all. Check this newsletter and website for more details on these and more events. Hope to “sea” you soon. Glada Blench
 
Local Diving
The diving this month has been really good. With the exception of one dive Kathy and I made, the visibility has been 50 ft. and the seas have been 2 ft. or less. Water temperature is still in the 70s. Our last dive the temp was 74. The first club dive of the new year has 10 divers ready to get pictures of the lemon sharks. Our April dive on Starfish Enterprise (Easter Egg Hunt ) is sold out. If anyone is still interested let me know and I will add you to the stand by list. So mark your calendar for the February and March dives. Sunday February 28 we will be diving with Parrot Island Scuba Adventure out of Saturday March 21 we will be diving with South Florida So dust off those wet suits and check out your regulator and come and join us for a day of diving with friends.
Kathy & John Ficarra
On Saturday, January 24th, fifteen USAers and guests met at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton for an Intracoastal Beach and Mangrove Cleanup, coordinated by Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The objective was to work as a group in removing trash and debris, including lumber planks and boards, from a Although the project was physically challenging for a few participants, rewards associated with cleansing the mangroves proved gratifying for everyone.
Saturday, January 31st, USAers and guests meet in the Town of Davie for a scenic bicycle ride on recreational trails, followed by a picnic lunch.
Other 2009 social events include a day at the Florida Renaissance Festival in Deerfield Beach; an evening of bowling in Pompano Beach; canoeing/kayaking the Loxahatchee River; a summer Turtle Walk at Gumbo Limbo; USA's 4th of July fireworks cruise, and many other exciting activities including USA's Fall Party. Our goal in 2009 is to plan a full season of social activities that appeal to everyone. USA's Social Butterflies are always open and receptive to new and different ideas. Future social events include:
DINNER BEFORE THE MEETING: Pat’s Place Sports Bar & Restaurant
Russ Manhold
We really had a great start to the New Year. The Hospitality Hut was buzzing with activity. Eleven guests were introduced at the January 8th USA Dive Club meeting. Mary Burnside, a friend of Judy Townsend, attended her third meeting. Thank you Mary, we appreciate your visits. Pete Gannon came to his first meeting. Pete is an Instructor Certifier whom we met at the Florida Dive Show. Karen Kayser is a returning guest. We met Karen while on a USA local dive aboard the Starfish Enterprise. Special thanks to Karen for submitting her application for membership. Rich and Lynn Ladisky found the USA Dive Club on the Internet. They first attended a meeting March 6, 2008. Rich is an underwater photographer and writer. His work has appeared in Scuba Diving, Parade and other periodicals. We were fortunate to have Rich as our guest speaker last November when he brought us a captivating presentation, "In Pursuit of the Blue-Ringed Octopus." Luis Monroy learned of the USA Dive Club from the folks at Scuba Emporium. Luis also attended the December Holiday Party and decided to attend the January meeting to apply for membership. Luis will also be participating with us in future social events. Jose Rodriguez discovered USA on the Internet. He is a new diver with about 38 dives. Hope to see you again. David and Elaine Schneider were first-times guests. Our friends at Force-E lead them to us. David and Elaine have been diving for many years and have logged hundreds of dives. Barb and John Stahura attended their first meeting. USA Club Secretary, Robert Shearer, invited them to attend a USA meeting. Be sure to click on the calendar button for details regarding USA Dive Club's very active diving and non-diving schedule. You can also click on the photo gallery link to view past activities. The Hospitality Gals would like to thank all the guests who attended our January meeting.
Julie Manhold & Clare Anthon SUNSET WATERS BEACH RESORT Come and join fellow USA Dive Club members for a wonderful week of diving in Curacao. Curacao is the biggest of the ABC Islands. Air transportation is on Insel Air www.fly-inselair.com. Accommodations are at the “All-Inclusive” Sunset Waters Beach Resort in Santa Marta, Curacao. www.sunsetwaters.com. We have booked the Oceanfront Superior rooms. All rooms are air-conditioned, with satellite TV, phones and full bath. We will enjoy 3 meals daily. Each meal service has ample serving hours. You will not have to rush. Do as the islanders do… “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Yes, there is even a Wi-Fi Café! All beverages are included, even your favorite cocktail is yours for the asking. On site, Sunset Divers, the PADI 5 star IDC dive center will help divers discover the breathtaking beauty of the undersea world. Our package offers us 2 morning dives for 6 days. Sunset Divers has two dive boats. The 44’ Day Dreamer will comfortably accommodate 21 divers, and the 31’ Day Tripper can carry another 10 divers to over 40 favorite dive sites. We will have unlimited shore diving at Sunset Waters’ “house reef”. It is over a kilometer long and starts at 30’ and drops off to 130’ just yards offshore! The famous Mushroom Forest is a mere 10 minute boat ride away. Water temperatures range from 78 degrees to 84 degrees and the visibility ranges from 70’ to 100’. After our dives, we can paddle an ocean kayak or paddleboat around the calm waters of Santa Marta Bay; get up a game of beach volleyball; play tennis; snorkel the marked trail and beyond; or take a nature walk. Maybe you are up for a challenge on the 18-hole miniature golf course. Or would you rather take a dip in the freshwater pool? The pool has a solar heated whirlpool and a swim up tiki bar. We will all be happy to know that Curacao is outside the Hurricane belt, just 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela. The climate is warm, sunny and dry. Curacao only averages about 20” of rainfall yearly and a year round temperature in the 80’s. Enjoy Curacao’s famous Gold Coast, pristine waters, comfortable facilities, a large beautiful beach and who could leave out the Caribbean’s most beautiful ocean sunsets. Trip Leader:
2009 Program:
Payment Schedule:
Nils Jacobsen USA Calendar
Birthday greetings in February to the following club members: Rita B, Bob C, Marc C, Joe D, Gerry G, Rich L, Carl M, David S, Donna W HAPPY BIRTHDAY from your friends in diving!!!
Classified-Items For Sale 
Pelican 1650 Black Case
Contact Linda Ianniello Under Sea Adventurers web site: www.usadiveclub.com Meetings: First Thursday of each month at: Board of Directors
Membership Dues - - - $40 Yearly Download the Membership Packet from our website.
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Hillsboro inlet. This will be a wreck dive (approximately 70 ft) and a drift dive (approximately 40 to 50 ft) Cost for this dive $48 per diver. We will probably be diving the United Caribbean or the Ancient Mariner sea conditions permitting. The drift dive will be on the third reef which is a great drift dive. On the east side of the reef you can dive to 75 ft and on the west side of the reef you will hit 55 ft. Both Air and Nitrox is available. Air $10 per tank, Nitrox $15 per tank. 
Diving Headquarters, another one of my favorite dive operations. This will probably be two drift dives out of Hillsboro inlet. By the way if you haven't filled up your freezer with lobster, this will be a good time as lobster season ends on March 31. Cost of this dive is $50 per diver. Air and Nitrox is available. Air $8 per tank, Nitrox $12 per tank. 
specific mangrove area on the park's west boundary, adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway.
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